Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: European equities retreated from a 15-month high to finish lower as a disappointing start of the earnings season in the United States and China's surprise move to raise bank reserve requirements hurt sentiment.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.9 percent lower at 1,053.93 points after rising to its highest in more than 15 months in the previous session. The index rose 26 percent in 2009 and has surged 63 percent since hitting a record low in March last year. Commodity shares were among the top decliners, with BHP Billiton, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Xstrata and ENRC down 1.8 to 3.3 percent, on concerns that Chinese monetary tightening could take some of the fizz out of the global economic recovery.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,943 points, down 97.5 or 1.61 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,000.05 points, down 43.04 or 1.06 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,541.9 points, down 50.36 or 0.76 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,993.27 points, down 199.22 or 0.82 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks declined 1.03 percent as profit-taking hit resource firms, with shares in Alumina Ltd falling sharply after partner Alcoa reported results that missed market expectations. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 51.2 points to 4,899.5, after closing at a 15-month high on Monday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's rand weakened by as much as 1.9 percent against the dollar, despite data showing a slower contraction in manufacturing which backed the view rates will stay on hold. The All-share index closed at 28,057.68 points, down 289.1 or 1.02 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,500.54 points, down 40.09 or 1.58 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,178.81 points, down 113.35 or 0.53 percent.