Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
Nokia said it now expected January-to-March earnings per share of 0.17 euro versus a previous guidance of 0.17-0.19 euro, which took its shares down over 17 percent to a three-month low of 14.40 euros.
Rhodia was another heavy decliner after the troubled French chemicals firm launched a 471 million euro rights issue, knocking its shares 12.2 percent lower as the market discounted the dilutive impact of the capital increase.
Worries over possible interest rate rises in the United States and in Britain also undermined sentiment, as investors feared higher borrowing costs may cap consumption and smother economic recovery.
The FTSE Eurotop 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed 0.5 percent lower at around 1,012.5 points, while the narrower DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index shed 1.4 percent to about 2,865.
The S&P/ASX 200 index closed at 3,455.9, up 3.6 points or 0.1 percent.
The strong showing in financials helped lift the all share index to a positive result after slipping into the red on Monday. It rose 41.87 or 0.39 percent to 10,904.04 points, bringing the year's gains to around five percent.
The All Gold index closed at 2,172.91 points, up 10.75 or 0.50 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 7,448.23 points, up 49.13 or 0.66 percent.