Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday. European stocks ended higher for the second straight session, extending a partial recovery from last week's steep sell-off and led higher by merger talk in utilities and stronger oil shares.
ABN Amro's shares advanced 1.3 percent as pressure grew for the Dutch bank's shakeup, while Endesa rose 2.2 percent as Germany's E.ON said it could settle for a minority stake in the Spanish utility. E.ON gained 1.3 percent. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.47 percent stronger at 1,467.326, still down one percent so far this year.