Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday, according to Reuters. LONDON - Britain's benchmark index ended just inside positive territory as a robust banking sector offset a heavy fall in oil stocks hit by lower oil prices. The FTSE 100 closed at 6,196.1 points, up 1.9 or 0.03 percent. EUROPE - European shares closed higher but below intraday peaks, with gains for construction and telecom stocks offsetting a weaker energy sector hit by lower oil prices and disappointing numbers from BP. Two investment banks warned that aggregate price-to-earnings (P/E) valuations were skewed by low multiples for many stocks with a high market capitalisation. "A low aggregate P/E multiple disguises the fact that the average stock is not attractive," Dresdner Kleinwort said in a strategy note. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,614.37 points, up 6.78 or 0.10 percent. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 5,533.03 points, up 14.44 or 0.26 percent. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 8,874 points, up 23.75 or 0.27 percent. MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31,939 points, up 51 or 0.16 percent. TOKYO - The Nikkei average rose 0.86 percent as shares of Sony jumped after an upgrade by Goldman Sachs, while JFE Holdings and other steel stocks rebounded from recent falls. The Nikkei climbed 146.18 points to close at 17,237.77. HONG KONG - Hong Kong blue chips fell 0.7 percent and China plays slid 1.3 percent as investors booked profits in recent highflyers, including telecoms and mainland financial issues. The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 131.58 points to close at 19,898.08. SYDNEY - Australian shares bounced 1.6 percent, snapping a four-day slide, as energy infrastructure group Alinta jumped on a management buy-out offer, while big miners such as BHP Billiton rallied after their recent rout. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 87.7 points to close at 5,589.7. JOHANNESBURG - Buoyant banking stocks propelled South African shares higher amid rising hopes the central bank might hold off on more interest rate hikes, but Sasol fell on a weaker oil price. The All-share index closed at 24,603.61 points, up 191.14 or 0.78 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,773.75 points, down 18.61 or 0.67 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,769.73 points, up 134.27 or 0.76 percent.
