Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: A bout of risk aversion dented European stocks as jitters grew over potential credit-related problems at banks and inflation, while typically defensive stocks such as pharmaceuticals and food rallied.
A drop in the price of crude oil futures to below $130 a barrel in line with a rise in the dollar helped the European market pare some of its losses in afternoon trade, but weighed on the energy sector, making BP and Total the largest drags, falling 1.7 to 2.1 percent. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 0.4 percent to 1,314.42 points, having earlier hit its lowest in a month.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6,958.66 points, up 4.82 or 0.07 percent.
PARIS: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,906.56 points, down 31.28 or 0.63 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,417.97 points, up 54.07 or 0.73 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 25,230 points, down 84 or 0.33 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares edged up 0.13 percent, with barley exporter ABB Gain Ltd hitting a record on upbeat earnings and outlook, though fund manager Perpetual Ltd fell on a profit warning. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 7.4 points to 5,714.4, after falling a total of 2.1 percent in the previous two sessions.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Stocks were pulled down by weaker commodity stocks as gold fell 2 percent, which coupled with weaker-than-expected growth data saw the rand lose ground on the dollar. The All-share index closed at 32,464.77 points, down 257.45 or 0.79 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,490.5 points, down 55.96 or 2.20 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,536.45 points, up 114.56 or 0.53 percent.