Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed lower as banks and drugmakers fell and investor sentiment was hit by data showing the number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 0.9 percent at 845.71 points.
The index has rebounded around 30 percent since it hit a lifetime low on March 9. Banks took the most points off the index. Standard Chartered fell 2.3 percent after a trading update from the Asian-focused bank provided no real surprises.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,800.56 points, down 35.45 or 0.73 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,163.1 points, down 21.66 or 0.68 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,361.3 points, down 82.12 or 1.51 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 19,638.91 points, down 90.02 or 0.46 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 1.3 percent as resource stocks were boosted by firmer metals and oil prices and the IMF's upward revision of economic growth prospects buoyed companies relying on domestic growth. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 49.0 points to 3,856.0, after rising 0.3 percent on Wednesday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks fell and bonds weakened, partly rattled by an unexpected central bank decision to leave interest rates unchanged, but the rand recouped some of its earlier losses against the dollar. The All-share index closed at 22,156.17 points, down 235.21 or 1.05 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,451.29 points, up 33.86 or 1.40 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,265.27 points, down 232.73 or 1.33 percent.