Closing Stock Market Indices Outside The U.S.

European shares fell, led lower by banks and miners, as a flurry of gloomy economic data raised worries about a deep global recession.

LONDON - Britain's top share index ended down 0.1 percent, off session lows as Wall Street pared earlier falls, but with weak miners and an, as-expected 50 basis point Bank of England rate cut keeping investors cautious.

The FTSE 100 closed at 4505.37 points, down 2.14 or 0.05 percent.

EUROPE - European shares fell, led lower by banks and miners, as a flurry of gloomy economic data raised worries about a deep global recession and weak sales by the world's top retailer Wal-Mart hurt sentiment.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended down 0.7 percent at 870.92 points.

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4879.91 points, down 57.56 or 1.17 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3324.33 points, down 21.76 or 0.65 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5751.07 points, down 10.62 or 0.18 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15993 points, up 35 or 0.22 percent.

TOKYO - The Nikkei average slid 3.9 percent, snapping a seven-day rally, after grim U.S. jobs data and an Intel revenue warning fanned fears the recession was deepening, hitting chip stocks and other exporters.

The Nikkei shed 362.82 points to close at 8,876.42, snapping its longest winning streak since the one that ended in April 2006.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares closed 3.8 percent lower as three big Chinese banks tanked, losing $25 billion of their combined market capitalisation in a two-day slide after two equity selldowns put nervous investors on the back foot.

The Hang Seng Index ended 571.55 points lower at 14,415.91.

SYDNEY - Australian shares fell 2.3 percent as renewed worries over the outlook for commodities amid a global downturn sparked a sell-off in resource stocks such as global miner BHP Billiton.

The S&P/ASX 200 index ended down 85.4 points to 3,694.3 points, ending a run of two strong days of gains.

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks slid for a second day on Thursday led by miners and financials as resurgent worries about the global economy hit equities worldwide, while the rand bounced back from a 2-week low against the dollar.

The All-share index closed at 22241.44 points, down 477.53 or 2.10 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2290.8 points, up 13.42 or 0.59 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 16993.17 points, down 356.83 or 2.06 percent.