Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European share indexes pared intra-day losses but still closed lower for the second day, with insurers such as AXA and Hannover Re hit by worries about potential devastation from Hurricane Rita.
Philips fell 2.4 percent as dealers cited reports of a bigger-than-expected glut of flat-panel monitors and LCD TVs, and after a restructuring at Sony Corp highlighted problems in consumer electronics. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended 0.3 percent weaker at 1,201.6 points, above the day's low of 1,197.6 points, still up 15 percent this year.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,849.01 points, down 26.21 or 0.54 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,448.15 points, down 19.91 or 0.45 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,735.75 points, down 25.27 or 0.37 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26,359 points, down 163 or 0.61 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares edged higher as strong oil and bullion prices drove up Woodside Petroleum and miners like BHP Billiton and Newcrest, but banks fell after a week-long rally. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 9.3 points, or 0.20 percent, to close at 4,561.9.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Financial stocks, led by insurer Sanlam, dragged the Johannesburg bourse lower amid worries about the impact of high oil prices and interest rate hikes. The All-share index closed at 16,227.98 points, down 207.17 or 1.26 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,028.9 points, down 48.02 or 2.31 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 11,879.37 points, down 197.11 or 1.63 percent.