Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Monday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares ended lower as weaker crude and metals prices hit commodity stocks and Commerzbank's $14.5-billion deal to buy Allianz's Dresdner Bank unit dragged down banking shares. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 0.5 percent at 1,189.35 points, slipping on the first day of the month after gaining 1.2 percent in August, only its second positive month in the previous 10.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6,421.8 points, down 0.5 or 0.01 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,472.13 points, down 10.47 or 0.23 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,227.75 points, down 10.99 or 0.15 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 22,218 points, down 22 or 0.10 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares fell 0.34 percent as top miners declined on weaker base metals prices, but banks and retailers gained ahead of an expected rate cut by the central bank on Tuesday. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 17.3 points to 5,118.3, after rising 4.1 percent last week.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Markets slid with stocks battered by weak global sentiment and falling metals prices, while concerns about inflation weighed on government bonds. The All-share index closed at 26,857.09 points, down 844.97 or 3.05 percent. The All Gold index closed at 1,686.09 points, down 108.22 or 6.03 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,146.86 points, down 247.2 or 1.27 percent.