Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.2 percent to 1,473.84, its highest unofficial closing level since May 2001, but below the day's peak of 1,474.9. Shares in Volkswagen rose 1.5 percent on market talk that sportscar maker Porsche could mount a full take-over bid for Europe's biggest carmaker, in which it is already the biggest shareholder. Porsche rallied 4.7 percent.