Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
Strategists said news from telecoms and computer chip companies was helping ease some concerns investors still had about the strength of the global economy.
"Telecoms companies are giving out strong buy signals," said Achim Matzke, head of European Index Research at Commerzbank.
"There's a lot of liquidity A lot of money is flowing into the European equity market."
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index edged down 5.7 points or 0.17 percent to 3,297.9.
The All-share index closed 0.06 percent or 5.9 points lower to 10,507.74, the Gold index ended down 0.54 percent or 13.84 points to 2537.88, while the Industrial index closed up 0.53 percent or 36.52 points to 6968.96.