Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
Verbund leapt after OMV agreed to buy Austria's biggest utility, while Adecco, DSG and Carlsberg rose after buoyant results. The FTSEurofirst 300 closed down 0.6 percent at 1,397.5 points, distancing itself from a near five-year high of 1,407.08 on Monday.
The All Gold index closed at 3,049.13 points, up 92.34 or 3.12 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 14,747.49 points, down 65.98 or 0.45 percent.