Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares snapped a five-day losing streak to end higher, boosted by gains in oil producers and banks, while investors awaited a US Federal Reserve rate decision and statement. Among major movers, Deutsche Postbank jumped after Commerzbank expressed interest in buying it, and Greece's OTE rallied after a share placing in the group attracted strong demand. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 1 percent at 1,595.8 points, bouncing off two-week lows hit in the previous session.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7,921.36 points, up 120.13 or 1.54 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 6,006.31 points, up 64.64 or 1.09 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 9,138.91 points, up 113.09 or 1.25 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 32,709 points, up 218 or 0.67 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares rose 1.3 percent as investors snapped up beaten-down stocks such as top banks following a rebound on Wall Street, while higher metal and oil prices lifted resource firms. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 81.4 points to close at 6,265.6.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The blue chip Top-40 index ended in positive territory, led by miner BHP Billiton and mobile phone group MTN, as commodity prices rose and the rand currency firmed. The All-share index closed at 28,402.79 points, up 117.69 or 0.42 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,481.8 points, down 16.71 or 0.67 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,479.52 points, up 76.96 or 0.40 percent.