Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European equities ended stronger for the second straight session, with a key benchmark hitting its highest closing level in two weeks, but volume was stifled by a US holiday.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.4 percent to a 1,620.18, its strongest close since June 20, and up 9 percent so far this year, boosted by corporate take-overs and strong earnings. About 1.8 billion shares were traded, about half the average daily volume traded so far this year.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 8075.26 points, up 24.58 or 0.31 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 6098.08 points, up 28.24 or 0.47 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 9294.51 points, up 54.2 or 0.59 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33219 points, up 49 or 0.15 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares barely moved, capped by profit taking in recent gainers such as Woolworths, though BHP Billiton rose after it approved the development of a major oil project. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed down just 0.4 point, or 0.01 percent, to 6,298.6.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African shares inched higher in thin trading as Impala Platinum gained amid talk of sector consolidation.
The All-share index closed at 28844.31 points, up 89.28 or 0.31 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2434.98 points, down 36.01 or 1.46 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19703.04 points, up 176.64 or 0.90 percent.