The DAX index ended at 3964.13 points, up 48.96 or 1.25 percent. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3700.56 points, up 40.75 or 1.11 percent. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5417.5 points, up 52.1 or 0.97 percent. MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 21521 points, up 140 or 0.65 percent. TOKYO - Japanese stocks closed higher for the first time in eight sessions as investors took their cue from a retreat in crude oil prices and picked up shares that have fallen of late, including Fujitsu Ltd. The Nikkei average rose 0.91 percent or 99.24 points to 11,064.86. HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks ended nearly one percent higher, boosted by a rebound for sagging property counters and gains for tech-related China shares. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index ended up 0.92 percent or 119.81 points to 13,154.55. SYDNEY - Australian stocks ended higher as a new appointment helped boost National Australia Bank, while heavyweight resource group BHP Billiton slipped after recent gains. The Australian benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 5.1 points or 0.14 percent to 3,715.0. JOHANNESBURG - A stronger South African rand, sitting at around two-month highs, hurt resource stocks led by gold mining shares reeling from a hostile bid in the sector, but banks rose as investors sought options. The All-share index closed at 11692.71 points, down 48.86 or 0.42 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2012.29 points, down 38.76 or 1.89 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 8421.8 points, up 78.43 or 0.94 percent. --SP 2045 Local Time 1745 GMT
