Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
Among the stream of companies reporting earnings, Aviva dropped despite posting a healthy profit jump, while Commerzbank tumbled after a weaker-than-expected performance in its key units. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares closed up 0.7 percent at 1,340.7 points, after earlier dipping to a near two-week low.