Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares edged up 0.48 points or 0.1 percent to 988.33 points, having traded within a 14 point range reaching 993.85 at best. The index, which fell 45 percent in 2008, is up nearly 19 percent this year - 53 percent above a record low in March.