Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks ended flat as stronger auto shares negated the impact of weaker banks, which were led lower by Barclays after Abu Dhabi sold more than 11 percent of the lender's shares.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 0.39 points at 885.88, having hit an intraday high of 888.94 - its highest since early January. The index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008, has jumped 37 percent since hitting a lifetime low in early March.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,144.06 points, up 1.5 or 0.03 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,378.04 points, down 1.45 or 0.04 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,432.22 points, up 82.48 or 1.54 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT Italian All Share index closed at 21,129.01, up 32.35 or 0.15 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks rose 1.56 percent, its highest close in almost seven months, as surprisingly strong economic data boosted retailers and builders and fuelled hopes the nation could avoid recession. The S&P/ASX 200 index added 60.9 points to 3,955.3, its highest close since November 11.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The rand was softer against the dollar but pared some of its earlier losses, which had been partly caused by comments from Governor Tito Mboweni suggesting the central bank wants a weaker currency. The All-share index closed at 23,661.87 points, up 113.22 or 0.48 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,744.3 points, up 31.94 or 1.18 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,958.37 points, up 301.04 or 1.70 percent.