Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell, led by financials such as Deutsche Bank and AXA, with scant corporate news to give direction and US data sending mixed signals on economic recovery prospects. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 1.2 percent lower at 860.21 points, having fallen as much as 2.0 percent earlier in the session.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,932.88 points, down 67.89 or 1.36 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,263.7 points, down 31.16 or 0.95 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,350.59 points, down 68.83 or 1.27 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15,917 points, down 85 or 0.53 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks fell 1.2 percent as optimism that an economic recovery is within sight was dented by Australian business spending data and concern over the impact of the rising cost of US debt. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 45.4 points to 3,755.7, after having risen 1.7 percent in the past two days.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The rand firmed against the dollar after the central bank cut interest rates further to spur an economy that is in its first recession in 17 years, while stocks ended lower.
The All-share index closed at 22,315.32 points, down 206.36 or 0.92 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,675.51 points, up 64.88 or 2.49 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,276.74 points, down 128.23 or 0.74 percent.
HONG KONG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Hong Kong's market was closed on Thursday for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. It will reopen tomorrow. On Wednesday the Hang Seng Index closed up 893.71 points at 17,885.27.
SHANGHAI STOCKS EXCHANGE: China's stock, money, foreign exchange and commodity futures markets were closed on Thursday and Friday for the Dragon Boat Festival. Trading will resume on Monday, June 1.