Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares ended higher as gains in drugs and commodity stocks offset the impact of banks, which weakened after Barclays unveiled writedowns and left the door open for a rights issue. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended 0.3 percent higher at 1,359.86 points, its third day of modest gains so far this week. The index has now gained 1.7 percent this month, building on a 6-percent gain in April, giving investors respite from a sharp slide that started almost a year ago due to credit market problems.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7081.05 points, down 2.19 or 0.03 percent.
PARIS: The CAC-40 index closed at 5057.51 points, up 2.27 or 0.04 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7683.43 points, up 88.82 or 1.17 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26147 points, down 8 or 0.03 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 0.3 percent as upbeat outlooks from firms such as Leighton Holdings and Coca-Cola Amatil helped soothe worries about slowing company profits. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 18 points to 5,890.7, setting a fresh four-month closing high.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: South Africa's stock indices surged to record highs supported by higher metals prices and the rand was also on a firmer footing against the dollar. The All-share index closed at 32647.43 points, up 260.42 or 0.80 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2491.64 points, up 5.4 or 0.22 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21639.41 points, up 169.76 or 0.79 percent.