Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks closed at an 11-week high, led by banking standout Santander and raw material companies boosted by higher crude oil and copper prices. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index advanced 1.9 percent to 816.40 points, its best close since February 9, leaving it 1.9 percent shy of its end-2008 close and 26.5 percent above this year's low-point set on March 9.
"There is a bit more money coming in to the stock markets, but it is not much yet," said Ralf Groenemeyer, strategist at boutique investment bank Silvia Quandt.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,704.56 points, up 97.14 or 2.11 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,116.94 points, up 65.92 or 2.16 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,152.72 points, up 43.63 or 0.85 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15,013 points, up 323 or 2.20 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares fell 0.35 percent as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd gave investors a reminder that tough economic times were not over by flagging more bad debt trouble ahead. The S&P ASX/200 index fell 13.1 points to 3,695.3, after falling 0.6 percent on Tuesday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's rand firmed sharply and local stocks climbed after strong earnings reports in Europe lifted global stocks and boosted appetite for risky assets. The All-share index closed at 20481.77 points, up 200.65 or 0.99 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2333.1 points, down 39.07 or 1.65 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 15897.57 points, up 55.61 or 0.35 percent.
TOKYO STOCKS EXCHANGE: Markets were closed today for a National Holiday, Showa Emperor's Day. They will reopen on Thursday. On Tuesday, the Nikkei average fell 2.7 percent or 232.57 points to 8,493.77.