Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
A mixed set of earnings also failed to cheer up investors on one of Corporate Europe's busiest reporting days of the quarter.
German bank HVB slid nearly 10 percent as its first-quarter net profit came in at less than a third of market forecasts, but chemicals and drugs giant Bayer rallied 2.2 percent after saying its first-quarter core earnings may top analyst estimates by as much as 25-30 percent.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index finished at 3401.3, down 43.5 points or 1.26 percent.
The All share index ended down 84.97 points or 0.80 percent to 10,526.55, the Gold index closed up 1.84 percent or 33.52 points to 1859.92, while the Industrial index ended down 1.65 percent or 126.46 points to 7531.87.
The market is also closed for the first three days of next week, the latter part of Japan's "Golden Week" holiday.
On Wednesday, the benchmark Nikkei average ended down 0.34 percent or 40.59 points to 12,004.29.