Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares ended a volatile session in positive territory as optimism over earnings outside the financial sector helped offset concern about more writedowns in the banking sector. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended up 0.6 percent at 1,313.20 points, having swung between losses of up to 0.9 percent and a gain of as much as 0.8 percent.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6795.03 points, up 66.73 or 0.99 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4944.65 points, up 72.01 or 1.48 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7324.5 points, down 4.35 or 0.06 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 25367 points, down 23 or 0.09 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 1.6 percent to a two-month closing high, as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group led other banks up after it posted first-half earnings that reassured investors. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 88.3 points to 5,652.9, the highest closing level since February 27.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's government bond yields spiked on strong inflation data that hardened the case for another rise in interest rates, while stocks crept up on a solid start for New York shares.
The All-Share index increased 0.09 percent to 31,740.75 points, turning positive in the last few minutes of the session. The All Gold index closed at 2445.69 points, down 49.6 or 1.99 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20363.01 points, up 103.4 or 0.51 percent.