Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed 1.1 percent lower at 1,033.56 points, posting its biggest one-day percentage fall since July 1. Successive gains over six sessions helped the FTSEurofirst 300 index to rise 8 percent in the last 1-1/2 weeks before it closed a touch lower on Wednesday.