Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday, according to Reuters. LONDON - Britain's FTSE 100 ended higher, extending closing gains achieved throughout January and buoyed by BHP Billiton's results ahead of the Bank of England's interest rates decision due on Thursday. The FTSE 100 ended up 23.2 points, or 0.37 percent at 6,369.5, its highest close since December 2000. EUROPE - European shares closed at fresh six-year highs, underpinned by strong mining stocks, while speculation of further consolidation in the utilities sector buoyed Iberdrola and EDF. The technology sector also outperformed as Infineon shares surged 10.7 percent after the German chipmaker announced a deal to supply the world's biggest mobile maker Nokia, while a strong profit and outlook from Cisco Systems boosted optimism about corporate profits. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.3 percent higher at 1,547.03 points, its highest closing level since December 2000. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,915.56 points, up 39.86 or 0.58 percent. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 5,703 points, up 26.22 or 0.46 percent. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9,288.2 points, up 22.04 or 0.24 percent. MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33,057 points, up 206 or 0.63 percent. TOKYO - The Nikkei average slipped 0.66 percent to its lowest close in three weeks as shares in tech firms including Canon and other exporters slid with the yen near a one-month high against the dollar. The Nikkei ended down 114.54 points at 17,292.32, its lowest close since Jan. 17. HONG KONG - Blue chips rose 0.12 precent while China stocks climbed 2.3 percent, as investors bid up China Construction Bank and other financial plays amid gains in mainland-listed shares. The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 24.49 points at 20,679.69. SYDNEY - Shares rose 0.5 percent to a second straight record closing peak on a surge in miner BHP Billiton after it expanded its share buyback plan by US$10 billion, much more than investors expected. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 29.3 points to close at 5,899.8. JOHANNESBURG - The world's biggest miner, BHP Billiton starred on back of a new share buy-back plan, but most shares ended softer, nudging the blue chip index off its record peak. The All-share index closed at 25,915.9 points, down 17.91 or 0.07 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,765.83 points, down 24.6 or 0.88 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 18,433.68 points, down 89.28 or 0.48 percent.
