Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares rose to their highest close since early November as better-than expected US July existing homes sales lifted investor sentiment, with banking stocks the major gainers.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 2.3 percent at 966.87 points. The index is up nearly 50 percent since reaching a lifetime low in early March and is up about 16 percent for the year.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,462.74 points, up 151.68 or 2.86 percent, 153.63 points higher on the week.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,615.81 points, up 110.49 or 3.15 percent, gaining 120.54 points over the week.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,139.8 points, up 107.75 or 1.79 percent, adding 154.5 points since Monday.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 22,378.26 points, up 491.83 or 2.25 percent, adding 365.01 points in the week.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks fell 1.99 percent, their biggest one-day decline in seven weeks, as some earnings disappointments and guarded outlook statements saw a reassessment of hopes for a quick and steep recovery. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 86.9 points to 4,290.6, losing 170.4 points since last weekend.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks notched up a fourth straight day of gains, boosted by higher metals prices and tracking global equities that rose on hopes that the worst of the global recession may have passed. The All-share index closed at 24,878.71 points, up 277.02 or 1.13 percent, gaining 62.94 points over the week.
The All Gold index closed at 2,337.1 points, up 11.73 or 0.50 percent, losing 83.37 points in the week. the Industrial index closed at 19,405.87 points, up 126.58 or 0.66 percent but worse off than last weekend by 19.46.
MANILA STOCKS EXCHANGE: Philippine financial and stock markets were closed on Friday for a public holiday. Trading resumes on Monday.