Stock indices closed higher on comments by the ECB President Mario Draghi. The European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said at the press conference on Thursday that the central bank will start its 60 billion euro-a-month bond purchases on March, 9. He noted that the ECB will buy euro-dominated public sector securities in the secondary market, and it will also continue to purchase asset-backed securities and covered bonds.

The ECB upgraded its growth estimate to 1.5% for 2015, up from 1% in December last year. Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to be 1.9% in 2016 and 2.1% in 2017.

The ECB downgraded its inflation forecast for this year to 0%, down from its previous inflation forecast of 0.7%, but upgraded the 2016 forecast to 1.5% from 1.3%.

The ECB released its interest decision today. The central bank kept its interest rate unchanged at 0.05%.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders plunged 3.9% in January, missing expectations for a 0.8% decrease, after a 4.4% rise in December. December's figure was revised up from a 4.2% gain.

The Bank of England's (BoE) kept its interest rates unchanged at 0.5% and its asset purchase program unchanged at £375 billion. This decision was widely expected.

Analysts expect that the BoE will start to raise interest rate later in early 2016.

The U.K. Halifax house price index declined 0.3% in February, after a 1.9% gain in January. January's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,961.14 +41.90 +0.61 %

DAX 11,504.01 +113.63 +1.00 %

CAC 40 4,963.51 +46.16 +0.94 %

The U.S. Commerce Department released factory orders data on Thursday. Factory orders in the U.S. declined 0.2% in January, missing expectations for a 0.1% increase, after a 3.5% drop in December. That was the sixth straight decline.

December's figure was revised down from a 3.4% fall.

The decline was driven by lower orders for non-durable goods. Non-durable goods orders plunged by 3.1% in January.

Durable goods orders jumped by 2.8% in January.

Canada's seasonally adjusted Ivey purchasing managers' index rose to 49.7 in February from 45.4 in January. Analysts had expected the index to increase to 46.2.

A reading above 50 indicates a rise in the pace of activity, below 50 indicates a contraction in the pace of activity.

The supplier deliveries index fell to 47.3 from 47.9, while employment index declined to 47.3 from 50.0, lowest level since June 2014.

Inventories index climbed to 47.4 from 46.4.

U.S. stock-index futures rose as investors weighed details of the European Central Bank's bond-buying program.

Global markets:

Nikkei 18,751.84 +48.24 +0.26%

Hang Seng 24,193.04 -272.34 -1.11%

Shanghai Composite 3,249.46 -30.07 -0.92%

FTSE 6,951.63 +32.39 +0.47%

CAC 4,962.31 +44.96 +0.91%

DAX 11,493.23 +102.85 +0.90%

Crude oil $51.65 (+0.27%)

Gold $1202.50 (+0.14%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

McDonald's (MCD) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray

Other:

UnitedHealth (UNH) target raised to $149 from $121 at Piper Jaffray

Stock indices traded higher ahead of the ECB'S and BoE's interest rate decision. The European Central Bank (ECB) will unveil details of its quantitative easing programme. The ECB will also provide new economic forecasts for the Eurozone.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders plunged 3.9% in January, missing expectations for a 0.8% decrease, after a 4.4% rise in December. December's figure was revised up from a 4.2% gain.

The Bank of England (BoE) will also release its interest rate decision on Thursday. Analysts expect the BoE will keep unchanged its monetary policy.

The U.K. Halifax house price index declined 0.3% in February, after a 1.9% gain in January. January's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,945.96 +26.72 +0.39 %

DAX 11,476.75 +86.37 +0.76 %

CAC 40 4,960.74 +43.39 +0.88 %

MarketWatch

European stocks rise, euro drops as investors wait for QE details

LONDON (MarketWatch) - European stocks gained Thursday, with investors gearing up to hear more on monetary policy and the state of the eurozone economy from the European Central Bank.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-rise-euro-drops-as-investors-wait-for-qe-details-2015-03-05

Reuters

UPDATE 3-Brent above $61 as Iran news offsets U.S. stockpiles

LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - Brent crude future prices rose above $61 a barrel on Thursday, as investors brushed aside bearish U.S. inventories data to focus on the lack of a deal in talks over Iran's nuclear programme.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/05/markets-oil-idUKL4N0W72AP20150305

Reuters

UPDATE 1-World food prices continue to fall in February - U.N. FAO

(Reuters) - Global food prices fell 1 percent in February to their lowest in more than four-and-a-half years, with cereals, meat and sugar declining, oils steady and only dairy prices rebounding sharply, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/05/food-fao-idUSL5N0W71YE20150305

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.58% to 18,096.9 points on Wednesday, while the S&P 500 decreased 0.44% to 2,098.53 points. Investors are awaiting the release of the U.S. labour market data on Friday.

The Fed's Beige Book survey showed on Wednesday that optimism prevailed in most Federal Reserve districts.

Europe's stock indices traded higher. Investors are awaiting the European Central Bank's interest rate decision on Thursday. The European Central Bank (ECB) will unveil details of its quantitative easing programme. The ECB will also provide new economic forecasts for the Eurozone.

UK's FTSE 100 index was up 0.14% to 6,928.67 points. Germany's DAX 30 increased 0.29% to 11,423.69 points, while France's CAC 40 rose 0.41% to 4,937.68.

The Bank of England (BoE) will also release its interest rate decision on Thursday. Analysts expect the BoE will keep unchanged its monetary policy.

The U.K. Halifax house price index declined 0.3% in February, after a 1.9% gain in January. January's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.11% to 24,193.04, China's Shanghai Composite declined 0.92% to 3,249.46. Chinese stocks declined as China lowered its annual GDP growth target to around 7% for 2015. That was the lowest level in 15 years.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.26% to 18,751.84 on corporate earnings. There were released no major economic reports in Japan on Wednesday.

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

Nikkei 225 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 100 6,919.24 +30.11 +0.44 %

CAC 40 4,917.35 +48.10 +0.99 %

Xetra DAX 11,390.38 +110.02 +0.98 %

S&P 500 2,098.53 -9.25 -0.44 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,967.14 -12.76 -0.26 %

Dow Jones 18,096.9 -106.47 -0.58 %