Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
But oil prices edging back towards record highs trimmed market gains late into the session.
Heavyweight insurer Allianz lent support, up 2.3 percent its Dresdner Bank unit forecast tripled profitability by 2009, while Scor added 4.7 percent as the French reinsurer said Hurricane Charley would have a relatively small impact on its earnings.
The FTSE Eurotop 300 index edged 0.11 percent higher to end at 951.41 points.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index gained 14.9 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 3,483.2.
The All-share index closed at 10745.53 points, down 78.34 or 0.72 percent.
The All Gold index closed at 1884.62 points, down 24.81 or 1.30 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 7403.43 points, down 44.99 or 0.60 percent.