Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
While a flurry of positive profit and trading statements pulled buyers into the market, some companies disappointed and margin worries hit shares in consumer goods giant Unilever, while a sharp profit fall hurt carmaker BMW. The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged, as expected, and markets took support from the fact that the central bank's policy statement was not nearly as hawkish as had been priced into interest rate futures markets. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares closed at 1,222.79 points, up 1.46 percent or 17.65 points.