Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
Mining stocks sank, despite soaring commodity prices, as investors banked gains after their recent strong rally, while the London Stock Exchange leapt on bid speculation and healthy earnings propelled SABMiller higher.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst index of 300 leading shares closed off 0.17 percent at 1,364.88.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index ended 49.8 points weaker at 5,183.7, off an intraday low of 5,173.8. The index is 1.2 percent below its April 6 record of 5,248.8, but is still up 8.8 percent so far in 2006.
The All Gold index closed at 2794.12 points, down 71.01 or 2.48 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 14330.31 points, up 54.66 or 0.38 percent.