Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares hit their highest close since mid-January, as record crude boosted heavyweight oil groups, builders and techs gained from strong results, and a weakening euro supported exporters.
Sentiment on the health of the world economy was supported by a bigger-than-expected rise in first quarter US non-farm productivity. Inflation-wary equities also took heart from news that unit labour costs in the sector rose less than anticipated. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended 0.8 percent higher at 1,362.11 points, with gainers outweighing declining stocks by two to one.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7,076.25 points, up 59.15 or 0.84 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,075.31 points, up 34.39 or 0.68 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,639.16 points, up 95.49 or 1.27 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26,266 points, up 209 or 0.80 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares fell 0.58 percent, dragged down by banks on concerns over the health of global financial institutions, though miners offered up a shining nugget after a rise in metals prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 33 points to 5,668.4, after rising as much as 0.8 percent earlier in the session.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African blue chip stocks hit a new all-time high before retreating, while the rand hovered near a two-month peak against the dollar, buoyed by renewed risk appetite. The All-share index closed at 31,894.69 points, down 34.4 or 0.11 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,410.02 points, down 2.68 or 0.11 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,330.91 points, up 185.93 or 0.88 percent.