Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed slightly higher in a choppy session, rising for the fifth consecutive day, with gains in technology stocks overshadowing losses in the banking sector.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares edged up 0.48 points or 0.1 percent to 988.33 points, having traded within a 14 point range reaching 993.85 at best. The index, which fell 45 percent in 2008, is up nearly 19 percent this year - 53 percent above a record low in March.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,594.77 points, up 20.51 or 0.37 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,705.87 points, down 1.82 or 0.05 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,208.43 points, up 6.39 or 0.10 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,328.86 points, up 57.52 or 0.25 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares rose 1.07 percent to an 11-month closing high, as expectations of an economic recovery lifted retailers such as David Jones Ltd while stronger oil prices boosted energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 48.6 points to 4,570.8, its highest close since October 7, 2008.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The rand weakened slightly to the dollar after central bank and International Monetary Fund comments it may be overvalued while local resource shares lifted the bourse. The All-share index closed at 25,315.86 points, up 229.94 or 0.92 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,578.46 points, up 25.9 or 1.01 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,716.31 points, up 93.93 or 0.48 percent.