Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
Sentiment on the health of the world economy was supported by a bigger-than-expected rise in first quarter US non-farm productivity. Inflation-wary equities also took heart from news that unit labour costs in the sector rose less than anticipated. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended 0.8 percent higher at 1,362.11 points, with gainers outweighing declining stocks by two to one.