Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares spiked in late trade as better-than-expected data on the US manufacturing sector offset disappointment after the European Central Bank decided not to cut interest rates.
Swedish telecoms network giant Ericsson boosted tech stocks with bullish comments about its first-quarter margins, while insurers such as France's Axa also benefited as investors began the quarter in a more positive frame of mind.
The ECB left benchmark rates unchanged at 2.0 percent, as expected, but dampened expectations of a future cut in rates, sticking to its view that a modest recovery is on track.
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said the bank had concluded "the present level of interest rates is the kind of level which ensures price stability".
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 3924.85 points, up 68.15 or 1.77 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3669.98 points, up 44.75 or 1.23 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5716.8 points, up 98.2 or 1.75 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 20524 points, up 172 or 0.85 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Strong gains in resource stocks, the "big four" domestic banks and media giant News Crop fired up the Australia stock market, driving the benchmark gauge to its highest level in two weeks.
The S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 30.9 points or 0.9 percent to 3,446.2.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's heavyweight dual-listed blue-chip shares led the stock market to a firm close, tracking gains in buoyant overseas markets and shrugging off a firmer currency.
The All-share index closed up 0.7 percent or 72.99 points to 10,765.55, the Gold index ended up 0.06 percent or 1.42 points to 2254.37, while the Industrial index closed up 0.25 percent or 18.61 points to 7321.46.