Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares made significant gains for the first time in more than a week, with banks rising after strong results from US financials and on optimism that stress tests will boost the sector's outlook. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.1 percent to close at 1,017.88 points, though it had been up more than 2 percent earlier.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5990.38 points, up 22.89 or 0.38 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3493.92 points, up 25.9 or 0.75 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6132.66 points, up 9.24 or 0.15 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 20629.58 points, up 154.13 or 0.75 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian stocks retreated from highs to end up 0.2 percent, as grocery chains slipped and BHP Billiton's cautious outlook put a lid on gains in the top miners. The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 9.1 points to close at 4,412.7, adding to Tuesday's one percent rise.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks booked their biggest gain in more than two weeks and shorter-dated government bonds advanced to multi-month highs in anticipation of an interest rate cut on Thursday. The All-share index closed at 27833.52 points, up 483.91 or 1.77 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2361.79 points, up 8.91 or 0.38 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 22802.85 points, up 384.88 or 1.72 percent.