Stock indices closed higher after the European Central Bank (ECB) President Draghi said the purchase of government bonds is possible. The ECB president was testifying to the European Union's Parliament on Monday. He reiterated that the ECB is willing to add further stimulus measures if needed. But Draghi pointed out that the ECB could purchase government bonds.

The ECB president noted that governments need to implement structural reforms.

Bundesbank said in its monthly report that Germany's economic growth was likely to remain weak in the next few months.

Eurozone's trade surplus widened to €17.7 billion in September from €15.4 billion in August, exceeding expectations for a rise to €16.2 billion. August's figure was revised down from a surplus of €15.8 billion.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,671.97 +17.60 +0.26%

DAX 9,306.35 +53.41 +0.58%

CAC 40 4,226.1 +23.64 +0.56%

U.S. stock-index futures dropped as data showing Japan fell into recession stoked investor concerns about the global-economic outlook.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,973.8 -517.03 -2.96%

Hang Seng 23,797.08 -290.30 -1.21%

Shanghai Composite 2,475.12 -3.70 -0.15%

FTSE 6,648.13 -6.24 -0.09%

CAC 4,207.86 +5.40 +0.13%

DAX 9,254.19 +1.25 +0.01%

Crude oil $75.07 (-0.99%)

Gold $1185.90 (+0.03%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $120 from $115 at RBC Capital Mkts

Home Depot (HD) target raised to $93 from $78 at Canaccord Genuity

European stock indices are trading lower today following the Nikkei which lost almost 3% on news Japan's economy is falling into recession. Japan's GDP fell at an annualised rate of -1.5% not meeting positive forecasts of +2.1% in the third quarter after dropping 7.3% in the second quarter. Euro zones trade balance improved to a plus of 17.2 beating forecasts of 16.2. Investors are awaiting Mario Draghi's speech at 14:00 GMT and U.S. industrial production data at 14:15 GMT.

UK's FTSE 100 index is down -0.27% trading at 6,638.10 points. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.36% currently trading at 9,219.27 points and France's CAC 40, trading at 4,186.84 points, lost -0.37%.

European shares dropped in early trading after Japan falls into recession and investors awaiting Mario Draghi's comments later in the day at 14:00 GMT. Japan's GDP fell at an annualised rate of -1.5% not meeting positive forecasts of +2.1% in the third quarter after dropping 7.3% in the second quarter fuelling concerns about global economic growth. FTSE 100 index is currently trading with a loss of -0.21% at 6,640.70 points, Germany's DAX 30 is down -0.33% trading at 9,222.35 points and France's CAC 40 is trading almost flat at -0.02% currently quoted at 4,201.73 points.

The DOW Jones and S&P 500 were trading flat in Friday's trading session. The DOW Jones closed at 17,634.74, a loss of -0.10%, the S&P500 closed little changed with a plus of +0.02% at 2,039.82 points ending a fourth week of gains. The preliminary University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index published on Friday rose to 89.4 beating forecasts predicting 87.5 and data showing that U.S. inflation expectations fell.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost -0.98%, China's Shanghai Composite lost -0.15% closing at 2,475.112 points quickly erasing their gains after profit taking.

Japan's Nikkei closed with a loss of -2.96% at 16,973.80. Preliminary GDP for the third quarter declined -1.5% compared with a forecast of +2.1% after losing -7.3% in the previous quarter reinforcing speculations that Prime Minister Abe will postpone a sales tax hike and hold snap elections in December as Japans economy entered recession unexpectedly.