Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5988.67 points, down 167.26 or 2.72 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3511.67 points, down 105.65 or 2.92 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6374.43 points, down 96.41 or 1.49 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 20200.65 points, down 689.37 or 3.30 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares dropped 1.9 percent to an eight-month low, with investors fleeing from risky assets as sentiment took a hit on worries about further financial regulation. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 83.6 points to 4,387.1, breaking through support at the May 7 low of 4,427 to reach its lowest level since August 21, 2009.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African assets took a pounding after Germany moved to limit short-selling, reigniting concern about a crisis in the eurozone. The All-Share index shed 1.45 percent to 27,175.04 points. The All Gold index closed at 2459.33 points, down 33.82 or 1.36 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21922.22 points, down 172.18 or 0.78 percent.