Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHNAGE: European shares closed higher, led by commodities and financials, although volumes were light due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 2.6 percent to close at 852.38 points. The index has risen 12 percent this week, but has fallen more than 43 percent so far this year.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHNAGE: The DAX index ended at 4,665.27 points, up 104.77 or 2.30 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHNAGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,250.39 points, up 80.54 or 2.54 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHNAGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,640.8 points, up 142.24 or 2.59 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHNAGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15,641 points, up 162 or 1.05 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHNAGE: Shares gained 1.36 percent, led by top miner BHP Billiton Ltd on strong metals and oil prices, with China's big interest rate cut also raising hopes for a revival in demand for commodities. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 48 points at 3,588.0, recovering from Wednesday's 2.3 percent decline.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHNAGE: Stocks raced higher for the fifth straight day, buoyed by firmer European equities and local inflation data backing an interest rate cut, while the rand firmed slightly in a quiet session. The All-share index closed at 21,301.01 points, up 826.31 or 4.04 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,064.82 points, up 139.88 or 7.27 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 16,238.99 points, up 264.05 or 1.65 percent.
MUMBAI STOCKS EXCHNAGE: India's Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange markets will be closed on Thursday, a spokesman for India's capital markets regulator said, after a series of attacks killed at least 86 people in the financial capital Mumbai. The BSE said expiry in futures and options and settlement due on Thursday was postponed to the next working day.