Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks closed higher, although well off earlier highs as British banks slid after Lloyds Banking Group posted a big loss at its HBOS unit. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was 0.6 percent higher at 796.5 points after peaking at 811.45 earlier in the day.
"The Lloyds statement has led to further devastation across the banking sector. Activity and volumes are very thin today. There is an air of quietness and it only takes one shock to send it down," said Howard Wheeldon, strategist at BGC Partners.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,413.39 points, up 5.83 or 0.13 percent, losing 231.24 points over the week.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 2,997.86 points, up 33.52 or 1.13 percent, falling 124.93 points since last Friday.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,126.84 points, up 20.17 or 0.39 percent, adding 3.75 points during the week.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 14,238 points, up 89 or 0.63 percent, 435 points lower on the week.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks rose 1.27 percent to a near one-month closing high, led up by Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd which jumped 9 percent after quashing speculation about a possible capital raising. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 44.8 points to 3,559.1, its highest close since January 19. The index rose 89.2 points on the week.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks were flat, as negative sentiment around the health of the world financial sector saw the bourse pull back earlier gains. The All-share index closed at 20,650.38 points, down 15.53 or 0.08 percent. The index lost 785.53 points since last Friday. The All Gold index closed at 2,712.86 points, down 19.57 or 0.72 percent, rising 212.35 points from last weekend, while the Industrial index closed at 15,851.58 points, down 146.89 or 0.92 percent, a drop of 562.87 points over the last seven days.