The Greek Interior Minster Nikos Voutsis warned on Wednesday that Greece will not pay the 450 million euros to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on time if its creditors do not unblock a new tranche of loans by April 9.

He noted that Athens will first pay salaries and pensions.

Stock indices closed higher on the better-than-expected manufacturing PMIs from the Eurozone. Eurozone's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 52.2 in March from a preliminary reading of 51.9. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 51.9.

Germany's final manufacturing PMI increased to 52.8 in March from a preliminary reading of 52.4. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 52.4.

France's final manufacturing PMI climbed to 48.8 in March from a preliminary reading of 48.2. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 48.2.

Concerns over Greece's debt problems continue to weigh on the euro.

The U.K. manufacturing PMI increased to 54.4 in March from 54.0 in February, missing expectations for a rise to 54.5. February's figure was revised down from 54.1.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,809.5 +36.46 +0.54 %

DAX 12,001.38 +35.21 +0.29 %

CAC 40 5,062.22 +28.58 +0.57 %

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said on Wednesday that the U.S. economy will pick up in the second quarter. He added that a slowdown in the economy in the first quarter was temporary.

Lockhart noted that the June to September period remained a "reasonable time frame" to hike interest rates.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta president believes that more people are not recorded in official unemployment figures.

Lockhart is a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year.

The U.S. Commerce Department released construction spending data on Wednesday. Construction spending in the U.S. declined 0.1% in February, in line with expectations, after a 1.7% drop in January. It was the second consecutive decline.

January's figure was revised down from a 1.1% decrease.

A 0.8% decrease in public construction outlays weighed on construction spending.

Spending on federal government projects rose 9%, but state and local government outlays dropped by 1.6%.

Spending on private construction projects increased 0.2%, while spending on private residential construction spending declined 0.2%.

Spending on single-family construction plunged 1.4%, while multi-family home building climbed 4.1%.

The Institute for Supply Management released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the U.S. on Wednesday. The index declined to 51.5 in March from 52.9 in February, missing expectations for a decline to 52.5. It was the fifth consecutive decline.

The harsh weather, higher health-care costs and the stronger dollar weighed on the index.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, below indicates contraction.

The new orders index fell to 51.8 in March from 52.5 in February.

The prices paid index increased to 39.0 in March from 35.0 in February.

The employment index decreased to 50.0 in March from 51.4 in February.

U.S. stock-index futures maintained losses as data on private payrolls showed companies added fewer workers than forecast in March.

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,034.84 -172.15 -0.90%

Hang Seng 25,082.75 +181.86 +0.73%

Shanghai Composite 3,810.29 +62.40 +1.66%

FTSE 6,821.49 +48.45 +0.72%

CAC 5,083.14 +49.50 +0.98%

DAX 12,040.07 +73.90 +0.62%

Crude oil $47.72 (+0.27%)

Gold $1192.70 (+0.81%)

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

Upgrades:

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies

Downgrades:

Other:

Twitter (TWTR) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies

Private sector in the U.S. added 189,000 jobs in March, according the ADP report on Wednesday. It was the slowest pace since January 2014.

February's figure was revised up to 214,000 jobs from a previous reading of 212,000 jobs.

Analysts expected the private sector to add 231,000 jobs.

The Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics, Mark Zandi said that falling oil prices and a stronger dollar weighed on the labour market. Moody's Analytics helps to comply the ADP report.

Official labour market data will be released on Friday. Analysts expect that U.S. unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 5.5% in March. The U.S. economy is expected to add 251,000 jobs in March, after a 295,000 increase in February.

The European Central Bank's (ECB) Governing Council Member and the governor of Slovakia's central bank Jozef Makuch said on Tuesday that quantitative easing by the ECB is working. He pointed out that there will be enough quality bonds for asset purchases by the ECB.

Makuch noted that quantitative easing do not replace reforms.

European stocks rallied today after a steady start. The DAX started in negative territory but recovered. The solid start in the new quarter was mainly driven by better-than-expected PMI data in the Eurozone pointing to an economic recovery in the E.U. The ECB's quantitative easing seems to start having positive effects. Markets remain cautious about the Greek debt deal. The IMF and the ECB warned that the reform plans submitted are not detailed enough and Athens will have to take further steps to ensure further bailout releases.

Final data on Eurozone's, French and German Manufacturing for March was reported today.

The French Manufacturing PMI rose above estimates of 48.2 with reading to 48.8 compared to a previous reading of 47.6 - still remaining in negative territory as a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

German Manufacturing PMI came in above estimates of 52.4 at 52.8 from 51.1 in February.

Data for the Eurozone Manufacturing PMI came in with a reading above estimates at 52.2, beating estimates of 51.9 and February's 51 - the highest reading in 10 months.

The data shows that the ECB's quantitative easing starts to fuel Europe's economy and that the recovery is gaining pace. Lower energy prices and a weaker euro also have positive effects.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.95% quoted at 6,837.11. Germany's DAX 30 added +1.04% trading at 12,090.67. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,101.43 points, +1.35%.

European stocks open mixed today with the German DAX in negative territory. Stalling negotiations between Greece and the E.U. weigh on the markets as the country is struggling to unlock more bailout funds. Greece failed to reach an agreement with the European Union and the IMF. The proposed reforms were rather seen as 'ideas' than concrete plans and therefor dismissed.

Final data on Eurozone's, French and German Manufacturing for March was reported today. The French Manufacturing PMI rose above estimates of 48.2 with reading to 48.8. German Manufacturing PMI came in above estimates of 52.4 at 52.8. Data for the Eurozone showed that Manufacturing PMI a reading above estimates at 52.2, beating estimates of a reading of 51.9.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.37% quoted at 6,798 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading at 11,955.64 points -0.09%. The DAX has risen almost 23% in the first quarter - the most in a quarter since 2003. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,049.73 points, +0.32%.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as the energy and healthcare sector led shares lower - reversing Monday's gains. The S&P 500 closed -0.88% with a final quote of 2,067.89 points. The DOW JONES index declined by -1.11%, closing at 17,776.12 points. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index for the U.S. jumped to 101.3 in March from 98.8 in February, beating expectations for a decline to 96.6. The Institute for Supply Management released its Chicago purchasing managers' index on Tuesday. The index climbed to 46.3 in March from 45.8 in February, missing expectations for a rise to 52.5. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index increased 4.6% in January, in line with expectations, after a 4.4% gain in December.

Chinese stocks were trading higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is currently trading +0.69% at 25,073.13 points. China's Shanghai Composite rose to 3,793.85 points closing+1.23%. China reported data on Non-Manufacturing PMI with a decline from 53.9 to 53.7. The Manufacturing PMI for March rose from 49.9 to 50.1, beating estimates for a decline to 49.7. Final data on the HSBC Manufacturing PMI came in at 49.6, above the estimated 49.3 and above the previous reading of 49.2. The PMI data shows signs of an economic recovery of the world second largest economy.

The Nikkei dropped on Wednesday on soft Tankan survey and profit taking. The BoJ Tankan Manufacturing Index for the first quarter came in unchanged from a previous reading at 12, below estimates of an increase to 14. The BoJ Tankan Non-Manufacturing Index rose from 16 to 19, beating estimates of an increase to 17. Final data on the Japanese Manufacturing PMI came in lower at 50.3, below the previous reading of 50.4. Analysts expected an unchanged reading. The index declined by -0.90% closing at 19,034.84 points.

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei 225 19,206.99 -204.41 -1.05 %

Hang Seng 24,900.89 +45.77 +0.18 %

S&P/ASX 200 5,891.5 +45.42 +0.78 %

Shanghai Composite 3,749.07 -37.50 -0.99 %

FTSE 100 6,773.04 -118.39 -1.72 %

CAC 40 5,033.64 -49.88 -0.98 %

Xetra DAX 11,966.17 -119.84 -0.99 %

S&P 500 2,067.89 -18.35 -0.88 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,900.88 -46.56 -0.94 %

Dow Jones 17,776.12 -200.19 -1.11 %