Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares rose thanks to an oil-powered rally in British stocks and a surprise rise in US durable goods data, which suggested that the world's largest economy may avoid recession. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.22 percent higher at 1,173.64 points, led by energy stocks, which climbed 1.5 percent on the sector index.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6321.03 points, down 19.49 or 0.31 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4373.08 points, up 4.53 or 0.10 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7086.64 points, down 7.08 or 0.10 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 21646 points, up 17 or 0.08 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Australian shares closed little changed as weakness in the financial sector on credit concerns countered gains by oil producers such as Woodside Petroleum on higher crude prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 3.7 points to 5,011.2.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: South African stocks rallied as gold prices buoyed miners and Murray & Roberts rose on strong results while bonds got a boost from data which reinforced expectations that interest rates had peaked. The All Share index climbed 1.49 percent to 27,426.59 points. The All Gold index closed at 1811.55 points, up 57.41 or 3.27 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 18906.36 points, up 139.27 or 0.74 percent.