Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
Deutsche Bank closed 3.1 percent firmer on reports it is discussing a possible bid for state-controlled Postbank, a move analysts said could spur mergers in the crowded German market.
A better-than-expected 12 percent rise in first-quarter earnings boosted German utility RWE 3.7 percent but Ahold, the world's third-largest retailer, shed 3.6 percent as the sale of assets and a weak dollar took a toll on first-quarter sales.
The FTSE Eurotop 300 index of pan-European blue chips ended 1.1 percent firmer at 979.6 points on solid turnover of around three billion euros.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 added 0.1 percent or 3.3 points to 3,356.6.
The all-share index finished with a modest gain of 62.79 or 0.62 percent at 10,127.60 points.
The All Gold index closed at 1,802.44 points, down 8.85 or 0.49 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 7,192.56 points, up 38 or 0.53 percent.