Stock indices closed higher ahead of the ECB's interest rate decision on Thursday. The ECB will unveil details of its quantitative easing programme.

Retail sales in the Eurozone rose 1.1% in January, beating expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a 0.4% gain in December. December's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone surged 3.7% in January, after a 3.1% increase in December. December's figure was revised up from a 2.8% gain.

Eurozone' final services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 53.7 in February from a preliminary reading of 53.9. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 53.9.

Germany's final services PMI declined to 54.7 in February from a preliminary reading of 55.5. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 55.5.

France's final services PMI remained unchanged at 53.4 in February, in line with expectations.

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's services purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. decreased to 56.7 in February from 57.2 in January, missing expectations for a rise to 57.6.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,919.24 +30.11 +0.44 %

DAX 11,390.38 +110.02 +0.98 %

CAC 40 4,917.35 +48.10 +0.99 %

The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans said on Wednesday that the Fed should delay its interest rate hike until inflation will rise to the Fed's target of 2%.

Evans is a voting member of the Fed policy committee.

He said that he expect that inflation will not rise to the Fed's target of 2% until 2018.

The Institute for Supply Management released its non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the U.S. on Wednesday. The index climbed to 56.9 in February from 56.7 in January, beating expectations for a decline to 56.5.

A reading above 50 indicates a growth in the service sector.

The ISM's new orders index fell to 56.7 in February from 59.5 in January.

The ISM's business activity/production index decreased to 59.4 in February from 61.5 January.

The ISM's employment index climbed to 56.4 in February from 51.6 in January.

The ISM's price index rose 49.7 in February from 45.5 in January.

U.S. stock-index futures fell. Investors await jobs data and a policy meeting from the European Central Bank later this week.

Global markets:

Nikkei 18,703.6 -111.56 -0.59%

Hang Seng 24,465.38 -237.40 -0.96%

Shanghai Composite 3,280.33 +17.28 +0.53%

FTSE 6,881.72 -7.41 -0.11%

CAC 4,889.18 +19.93 +0.41%

DAX 11,298.57 +18.21 +0.16%

Crude oil $50.78 (+0.44%)

Gold $1205.20 (+0.07%)

Private sector in the U.S. added 212,000 jobs in February, according the ADP report on Wednesday.

January's figure was revised up to 250,000 jobs from a previous reading of 213,000 jobs.

Analysts expected the private sector to add 219,000 jobs.

Official labour market data will be released on Friday. Analysts expect that U.S. unemployment rate is expected to decline to 5.6% in February from 5.7% in January. The U.S. economy is expected to add 241,000 jobs in February.

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

Upgrades:

McDonald's (MCD) upgraded from Sector Perform to Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts, target raised from $93 to $115

Downgrades:

Alcoa (AA) downgraded from Buy to Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Other:

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's released its services purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. on Wednesday. The index decreased to 56.7 in February from 57.2 in January, missing expectations for a rise to 57.6.

The chief economist at Markit Chris Williamson noted that "the combination of relatively robust economic growth, the improving labour market and signs that wage growth will pick up in coming months" might lead that the Bank of England will start to hike its interest rate later this year.

Williamson pointed out that Markit expects the first interest rate hike by the Bank of England in February 2016.

Stock indices traded mixed after the mixed economic data from the Eurozone. Retail sales in the Eurozone rose 1.1% in January, beating expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a 0.4% gain in December. December's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone surged 3.7% in January, after a 3.1% increase in December. December's figure was revised up from a 2.8% gain.

Eurozone' final services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 53.7 in February from a preliminary reading of 53.9. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 53.9.

Germany's final services PMI declined to 54.7 in February from a preliminary reading of 55.5. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 55.5.

France's final services PMI remained unchanged at 53.4 in February, in line with expectations.

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's services purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. decreased to 56.7 in February from 57.2 in January, missing expectations for a rise to 57.6.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,867.54 -21.59 -0.31 %

DAX 11,240.17 -40.19 -0.36 %

CAC 40 4,870.22 +0.97 +0.02 %

Eurostat released its retail sales data for the Eurozone on Wednesday. Retail sales in the Eurozone rose 1.1% in January, beating expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a 0.4% gain in December. December's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone surged 3.7% in January, after a 3.1% increase in December. December's figure was revised up from a 2.8% gain.

The increase of retail sales indicates higher household spending due to lower oil prices.

Bloomberg

Saudis Boost Oil Pricing to Asia Most in Three Years

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, increased the pricing terms for Arab Light sold to Asia by the most in three years as demand improved. Abu Dhabi raised its export prices for the first time since June.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-03/saudis-increase-oil-price-to-asia-most-in-3-years-on-demand

RTTNews

Asian Stocks Follow Wall Street Lower

Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Wednesday as caution set in ahead of a European Central Bank meeting on Thursday and the all-important U.S. jobs report due out Friday, which could provide some clues about the timing of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike this year.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/2465686/asian-stocks-follow-wall-street-lower.aspx

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.47% to 18,203.37 points on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 decreased 0.45% to 2,107.78 points. There were released no major economic reports in the U.S. yesterday.

Lower car sales in February weighed on the U.S. indices.

Europe's stock indices traded mixed. Investors are awaiting the European Central Bank's interest rate decision on Thursday.

UK's FTSE 100 index was down 0.23% to 6,873.61 points. Germany's DAX 30 declined 0.30% to 11,246.81 points, while France's CAC 40 rose 0.12% to 4,874.86 .

Retail sales in the Eurozone rose 1.1% in January, beating expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a 0.4% gain in December. December's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone surged 3.7% in January, after a 3.1% increase in December. December's figure was revised up from a 2.8% gain.

Eurozone' final services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 53.7 in February from a preliminary reading of 53.9. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 53.9.

Germany's final services PMI declined to 54.7 in February from a preliminary reading of 55.5. Analysts had expected the final index to remain unchanged at 55.5.

France's final services PMI remained unchanged at 53.4 in February, in line with expectations.

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's services purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. decreased to 56.7 in February from 57.2 in January, missing expectations for a rise to 57.6.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.96% to 24,465.38, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.53% to 3,280.33. The Chinese HSBC services purchasing managers' index rose to 52.0 in February from 51.8 in January.

Hong Kong's private sector activity increased at the fastest pace in one year in February.

Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.59% to 18,703.6 due to a stronger yen. There were released no major economic reports in Japan on Wednesday.

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

Nikkei 225 18,815.16 -11.72 -0.06 %

Hang Seng 24,702.78 -184.66 -0.74 %

Shanghai Composite 3,263.05 -73.23 -2.20 %

FTSE 100 6,889.13 -51.51 -0.74 %

CAC 40 4,869.25 -48.07 -0.98 %

Xetra DAX 11,280.36 -130.00 -1.14 %

S&P 500 2,107.78 -9.61 -0.45 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,979.9 -28.20 -0.56 %

Dow Jones 18,203.37 -85.26 -0.47 %