Stock indices closed lower on falling oil prices and political uncertainty in Greece. There is speculation that Greece could leave the Eurozone. Greeks will elect new parliament later this month.

German inflation data also weighed on markets. German preliminary consumer price index remained flat in December, missing expectations for a 0.1% gain.

On a yearly basis, German preliminary consumer price index decreased to 0.2% in December from 0.6% in November, missing forecasts for a decline to 0.4%. That was the lowest level since October 2009.

These figures has added to concerns that the Eurozone could slip into deflation.

Investors speculate that the European Central Bank could decide on its policy meeting on January 22 to purchase government bonds.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,417.16 -130.64 -2.00%

DAX 9,473.16 -291.57 -2.99%

CAC 40 4,111.36 -140.93 -3.31%

U.S. stock-index futures fell as energy shares slid with oil extending its lowest price since 2009.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,408.71 -42.06 -0.24%

Hang Seng 23,721.32 -136.50 -0.57%

Shanghai Composite 3,351.35 +116.68 +3.61%

FTSE 6,482.09 -65.71 -1.00%

CAC 4,185.11 -67.18 -1.58%

DAX 9,624.44 -140.29 -1.44%

Crude oil $50.97 (-3.28%)

Gold $1196.50 (+0.84%)

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

Upgrades:

Coca-Cola (KO) upgraded to Overweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley

Downgrades:

Wells Fargo (WFC) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Robert W. Baird

Ford Motor (F) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup

Starbucks (SBUX) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Janney

Other:

Goldman Sachs (GS) target raised to $225 from $220, maintain Outperform at Credit Suisse

European indices declined as slumping oil-prices and worries over Greece's future in currency-union after the elections on January 25^th weigh on markets and outweigh speculation of further stimulus by the ECB. The German Spiegel magazine reported that Chancellor Merkel is ready to accept a Greek euro exit as elections will take place in three weeks. After a decline in U.K.'s PMI Construction from previously 59.4 to 57.6, not meeting forecast of a slight decrease to 59.2, markets are looking forward to German CPI due 13:00 GMT.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index declined by -0.59% quoted at 6,509.42. France's CAC 40 lost -0.58% trading at 4,227.62. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading -0.34% at 9,731.58 points.

European indices edge higher in early trading despite energy stocks were under pressure as oil prices decline to multi-year lows and the political turmoil in Greece where the anti-austerity party Syriza could come to power after the elections of January 25^th. Growing concerns over a potential Greek exit from the euro zone weighs but the prospect of for additional easing measures by the ECB supported the markets.

Markets are looking ahead to the publication of the Eurozone's Sentix Investor Confidence due 09:30 GMT and German CPI at 13:00 GMT.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.43% quoted at 6,576.03 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +0.22% trading at 9,785.87. France's CAC 40 rose by +0.47%, currently trading at 4,272.27 points.

U.S. markets closed mixed on Friday. At the close the DOW JONES added +0.06% to 17,832.99 points. The S&P 500 lost -0.03% with a final quote of 2,058.20. Disappointing data on the ISM Manufacturing Index and Construction Spending were published on Friday weighing on the markets.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined by -0.16% to 23,818.93 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,351.35 points, rallying as much as +3.61% diverging from mainland and Hong Kong.

Japan's Nikkei declined on the first trading day of 2015 by -0.24% closing at 17,408.71 giving up earlier gains. A stronger yen weighed on exporters and falling oil prices put pressure on energy shares.

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

HANG SENG 23,796.35 +191.31 +0.81%

S&P/ASX 200 5,435.93 +24.91 +0.46%

FTSE 100 6,547.8 -18.29 -0.28%

CAC 40 4,252.29 -20.46 -0.48%

Xetra DAX 9,764.73 -40.82 -0.42%

S&P 500 2,058.2 -0.70 -0.03%

NASDAQ Composite 4,726.81 -9.24 -0.20%

Dow Jones 17,832.99 +9.92 +0.06%