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Closing stock market indices

LONDON: Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.

FRANKFURT - Germany's DAX index ended near its day's low as falls in technology and car stocks outweigh gains by HypoVereinsbank and reinsurer Munich Re on speculation of a possible tie-up.

The DAX index ended down 1.33 percent 103.84 points at 7,694.78.

PARIS - The Paris Bourse ended a roller-coaster session nearly flat as France Telecom climbed on a key German acquisition while a firm start on Wall Street helped offset a weak "new economy" sector.

The CAC-40 ended down 0.17 percent or 10.98 points to 6,268.31.

ZURICH - Swiss shares closed easier in relatively active trade, ignoring a firmer start on Wall Street and shrugging off an interest rate hike by the Swiss National Bank (SNB).

The blue-chip Swiss Market Index fell 0.38 percent or 28 points to 7,360.2.

MILAN - Milan stock indices staged a late recovery to close marginally lower as financial stocks put in strong gains after a firm start on Wall Street.

The all-share Mibtel closed down 0.22 percent or 70 points to 32,086.

AMSTERDAM - Dutch shares underperformed most of their European counterparts, dropping just over one percent in a day when cable and fibre network firms were hit harder than most.

The AEX index closed down 1.10 percent or 7.46 points to 671.89.

SYDNEY - The Australian share market finished weaker as a retreat among blue chip stocks pulled the market back from record territory.

The benchmark All Ordinaries Index fell 30.6 points or about 0.93 percent to close at 3,243.5.

JOHANNESBURG - South African equities advanced to end in positive territory as industrial stocks rallied from recently oversold levels and technology counters regained favour with investors.

The Industrial index closed up 1.35 percent or 128.2 points at 9,600.4, the benchmark All Share index was 0.71 percent or 57.7 points higher to 8,138.3, while the Gold index closed down 24.1 points or 2.06 percent at 1148.1.-Reuters