Stock Market

LONDON (March 05 2010): Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.

EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed slightly higher, gaining for the fifth consecutive session, with rises in the banking sector overshadowing falls in miners as copper prices slipped. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed up 0.1 percent at 1,036.44 points after earlier being as low as 1,028.77 and as high as 1,040.50.

FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,795.32 points, down 22.56 or 0.39 percent.

PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,828.41 points, down 14.11 or 0.37 percent.

ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,804.87 points, down 8.29 or 0.12 percent.

MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The FT IT All Share index closed at 22,359.67 points, up 91.29 or 0.41 percent.

SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks rose 0.31 percent as a falling US dollar boosted base metal prices and in turn mining stocks, while CSR rose on talk of a new bid for its sugar arm. The S&P/ASX 200 index picked up 14.8 points to end at 4,750.50.

JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The rand firmed against the dollar, touching a one-month high during the day, as investor concerns triggered by Greece's debt woes eased, easing pressure on risky assets. The All-share index closed at 27,774.1 points, up 90.45 or 0.33 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,252.57 points, up 4.78 or 0.21 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,949.7 points, up 81.52 or 0.37 percent.