Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
Miners were among the biggest losers, with Rio Tinto and Anglo American rattled by a profit warning from Australia's Newcrest Mining and fresh worries that a two-year bull market could come to an end. Heavily-weighted energy stocks added to market woes.
Royal Dutch Shell and Total fell in step with oil prices after US inventory data showed that high energy prices were continuing to prompt consumers to cut back on fuel. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index shed 1.66 percent or 19.76 points to end at 1,172.70 points, a closing low last seen on August 30, 2005