Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
Equity markets spent most of the day in weaker territory, with the insurance sector tumbling as investors lowered their exposure to the sector following a placement of Munich Re shares in the previous session.
But gains in tech stocks such as mobile handset maker Nokia helped to limit losses after upbeat forecasts from key supplier Texas Instruments Inc, the world's biggest maker of chips used in mobile phones.
Nokia rose 1.7 percent. Software maker Getronics added 3.5 percent and Atos Origin climbed 1.6 percent after Societe Generale named it as one of its top picks for consolidation in Europe next year.
The retail sector was also firm, with Marks & Spencer up 3.7 percent on talk that it would delay its January sale as trading conditions remained buoyant.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.1 percent higher at 1,266.6, having hit a 3-1/2 year intraday high of 1,273.53 on Wednesday before closing lower.
The All Gold index closed at 2,386.38 points, up 75.95 or 3.29 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 12,438.7 points, down 16.95 or 0.14 percent.