Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
The expiry of derivatives contracts on March 17 was also beginning to have an impact, said Giuseppe-Guido Amato, equity strategist at German brokerage Lang & Schwarz. "Those who have bought (stocks) at high levels are getting nervous, and others want to lock in profits," Amato said. The benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 index ended 0.77 percent down at 1,333.17 points, its lowest close since February 15.
The All Gold index closed at 2,494.02 points, down 45.24 or 1.78 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13,375.48 points, down 16.29 or 0.12 percent.