Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday, according to Reuters. LONDON - The FTSE 100 closed little changed as positive company news and results offset mostly negative U.S. and European economic figures signaling the potential for interest rates to rise. The FTSE 100 closed at 6,149.3 points, down 0.3 or 0.00 percent. EUROPE - European shares fell as renewed worries of higher borrowing costs on both sides of the Atlantic overshadowed robust corporate earnings from bank Credit Suisse and others. The pan-European FTSEurofirst index of 300 leading shares closed 0.37 percent lower at 1,443.94 points. The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged, as expected, but signalled an intention to tighten policy in December. The ECB was also interpreted by some economists as hinting at further tightening next year. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,223.33 points, down 68.57 or 1.09 percent. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 5,310.07 points, down 60.79 or 1.13 percent. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 8,645.72 points, up 32.72 or 0.38 percent. MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 30,449 points, down 89 or 0.29 percent. TOKYO - The Nikkei share average fell 0.15 percent to end at its lowest close in four weeks as growing concern about a slowdown in the U.S. economy led to declines in blue-chip exporters such as Canon Inc. The Nikkei slipped 25.24 points to 16,350.02, the lowest closing price since Oct. 4. The Nikkei posted its first weekly decline in six weeks, falling 319.05 points. Japanese markets will be closed on Friday for a national holiday and will reopen on Monday. HONG KONG - Blue chips rose 1.42 percent to a record closing high as investors shrugged off Wall Street losses and piled into HSBC Holdings Plc and China Mobile. The benchmark Hang Seng index surged 261.13 points to end at 18,714.78 after setting an intraday record at 18,724.91 in late afternoon. SYDNEY - Shares dipped 0.13 percent, as Westpac Banking Corp. fell on margin worries, but upbeat comments from pallet supplier Brambles Industries Ltd. and Seven Network Holdings Ltd. limited market's losses. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index shed 7.0 points to 5,409.4, stepping back from a record closing peak on Wednesday. It also scaled a life high on Wednesday of 5,419.1, smashing the previous best set on Monday. JOHANNESBURG - BHP Billiton slid on weaker copper prices, weighing on South Africa's bourse, while interest-rate sensitive bank and retail stocks fell after U.S. data signalled fresh jitters over inflation. The All-share index closed at 23,527.62 points, down 72.9 or 0.31 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,872.38 points, up 2.16 or 0.08 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 15,837.44 points, down 56.41 or 0.35 percent.
