Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares rose on hopes of a possible European Union rescue plan for Greece, with banks stronger, but gains were pared after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke outlined fiscal tightening plans.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose for a third day, closing 0.6 percent up at 987.13 points, down from the day's high of 996.12. The index is up 52.9 percent from its lifetime low of March 9, 2009, but is down 8.1 percent from a 15-month high it reached on January 11.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,536.37 points, up 38.11 or 0.69 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,635.61 points, up 22.85 or 0.63 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,333.99 points, up 19.24 or 0.30 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,746.12 points, up 404.11 or 1.89 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks rose just 0.19 percent, as worries about the bailout of Greece and Commonwealth Bank's uncertain outlook weighed on the banks, offsetting gains in the miners. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 8.4 points at 4,513.4.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The rand lost ground against the dollar and local stocks snapped a two-day winning streak as persistent worries about debt problems in Europe curbed appetite for riskier assets. The All-share index closed at 26,359.17 points, down 95.93 or 0.36 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,227.79 points, up 3 or 0.13 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,771.17 points, down 4.05 or 0.02 percent.