Stock indices closed higher on a weaker euro.

Industrial production in France was flat in February, beating expectations for a 0.1% decline, after a 0.3% rise in January. January's figure was revised down from a 0.4% increase.

On a yearly basis, the French industrial production rose 0.3% in February, after a 0.6% gain in January.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research's estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the U.K. rose by 0.6% in three months to March, after a 0.6% growth in three months to February.

Manufacturing production in the U.K. rose 0.4% in February, in line with expectations, after a 0.6% decline in January. January's figure was revised down from a 0.5% decrease.

On a yearly basis, manufacturing production in the U.K. increased 1.1% in February, missing expectations for a 1.3% gain, after a 1.7% rise in January. January's figure was revised down from a 1.9% gain.

Industrial production in the U.K. climbed 0.1% in February, missing forecasts of a 0.3% rise, after a 0.1% decline in January.

On a yearly basis, industrial production in the U.K. gained 0.1% in February, missing expectations for a 0.3% rise, after a 1.2% increase in January. January's figure was revised down from a 1.3% rise.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 7,089.77 +74.41 +1.06 %

DAX 12,374.73 +208.29 +1.71 %

CAC 40 5,240.46 +31.51 +0.60 %

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) released its estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the U.K. on Friday. The GDP estimate rose by 0.6% in three months to March, after a 0.6% growth in three months to February.

According to NIESR, the recent weak performance in the production and construction sectors weighed on economic growth in the first quarter.

The Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker said on Friday that the Fed could start to raise its interest rate in June if "incoming economic reports diverge substantially from projections".

He added that it would be ok if the Fed will cut interest rate after rate hike if needed.

The Richmond Fed president expects that U.S. inflation will pick up toward the Fed's 2% target.

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

The U.S. Labor Department released its import and export prices data on Friday. The U.S. import price index dropped by 0.3% in March, beating expectations for a 0.4% decline, after a 0.2% increase in February.

February's figure was revised down from a 0.4% gain.

The decline was driven by a fall in prices for non-fuel imports. Non-fuel imports prices decreased 0.4% in March.

A stronger U.S. currency lowers the price of imported goods.

Petroleum import prices climbed 0.8% in March.

U.S. export prices rose by 0.1% in March, after a revised 0.2% drop in February. It was the first rise since July 2014.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released housing starts data on Friday. Housing starts in Canada increased to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 189,708 units in March from a revised reading of 151,238 units in February. February's figure revised down from 156,276 units.

Analysts had expected an increase to 175,000 units.

The CMHC's Chief Economist Bob Dugan said that "the trend in housing starts essentially held steady in March compared to February".

"However, the trend in housing construction has moved lower since September 2014, partly reflecting efforts to manage the level of completed but unsold units," Dugan noted.

Statistics Canada released the labour market data on Friday. Canada's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.8% in March, in line with expectations.

The number of employed people increased by 28,700 jobs in March, exceeding expectations for a gain of 100 jobs, after a 1,000 decline in February.

The gain was driven by an increase in part-time jobs.

Full-time employment in March declined by 28,200 jobs, while part-time work rose by 56,800.

The manufacturing sector cut 16,500 jobs in March, while natural resources added 6,300 jobs.

The services sector added 45,300 jobs, while the construction sector shed 12,100 jobs.

Self-employment declined by 17,000.

The labour participation rate rose to 65.9% in March from 65.8 in February.

The Bank of Canada monitors closely the labour participation rate.

U.S. stock-index futures fluctuated after General Electric Co. announced a broad restructuring plan.

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,907.63 -30.09 -0.15 %

Hang Seng 27,272.39 +328.00 +1.22 %

Shanghai Composite 4,034.9 +77.37 +1.95 %

FTSE 7,050.67 +35.31 +0.50 %

CAC 5,232 +23.05 +0.44 %

DAX 12,367.53 +201.09 +1.65 %

Crude oil $50.20 (-1.14%)

Gold $1204.60 (+0.92%)

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Apple (AAPL) downgraded from Outperform to Mkt Perform at Raymond James

Other:

Apple (AAPL) reiterated at Buy at Canaccord Genuity, target raised from $145 to $150

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Thursday that low interest rates are fuelling asset bubbles around the world.

She also noted that the IMF expects a stronger growth in the U.S. and U.K. and improving outlook for the Eurozone. The IMF expects a weaker growth outlook for China, Brazil and Russia, Lagarde said.

The Obama administration criticised Europe and Japan for its reliance on monetary policy to spur the economy. The administration added that it worried that a failure to implement other policy tools could further undermine a global economic outlook.

"The global economy should not again rely on the U.S. to be the only engine of demand," the administration said.

"Not only has global growth failed to accelerate, but there is worry that the composition of global output is increasingly unbalanced," the administration added.

The U.S. Treasury Department also criticised China and South Korea for its currency policies that hurt other trading partners including the U.S. China's currency remains "significantly undervalued," the Treasury Department said.

European stocks are trading higher today boosted by a weaker euro ahead of corporate earnings, with the single currency re-approaching lows from a month ago and down for a fifth consecutive day. The weaker single currency is seen as positive for Eurozone's economic recovery. Better-than expected French data on Industrial Production further added to the bullish sentiment.

The Unemployment Rate in Switzerland unexpectedly rose to 3.4% in March, above the estimated flat reading of 3.2%.

French Industrial Production for February came in at 0.0%, beating estimates for a decline by -0.1%. In January Industrial Production rose +0.4%. Year on year Industrial Production declined from a previous reading of +0.6% to +0.3%.

Today the Office for National Statistics reported U.K.'s Industrial and Manufacturing Production data for the month of March. Industrial Production only rose +0.1%, below the estimated increase of +0.3%. The output was dragged down by a strong decline in energy. In February Industrial Production declined -0.1%.

Manufacturing Production rose +0.4%, in line with expectations from -0.5% in the preceding month. The best performing sectors out of the 13 were transport equipment, machinery and metals. Seven sectors posted gains.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.37% quoted at 7,041.06 points, close to its all-time high hit in March. Germany's DAX 30 is trading at 12,309.66 points +1.18% close to a fresh all-time high set in today's trading session. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,231.69 points, +0.44%, the highest level since 2008.

Today the Office for National Statistics reported U.K.'s Industrial and Manufacturing Production data for the month of March.

Industrial Production only rose +0.1%, below the estimated increase of +0.3%. The output was dragged down by a strong decline in energy. In February Industrial Production declined -0.1%.

Manufacturing Production rose +0.4%, in line with expectations from -0.5% in the preceding month. The best performing sectors out of the 13 were transport equipment, machinery and metals. Seven sectors posted gains.

European stocks open higher today boosted by a weaker euro, re-approaching lows from a month ago and down for a fifth consecutive day. The weaker single currency is seen as positive for Eurozone's economy recovery. Better-than expected French data on Industrial Production further added to the bullish sentiment.

The Unemployment Rate in Switzerland unexpectedly rose to 3.4% in March, above the estimated flat reading of 3.2%.

French Industrial Production for February came in at 0.0%, beating estimates for a decline by -0.1%. In January Industrial Production rose +0.4%. Year on year Industrial Production declined from a previous reading of +0.6% to +0.3%.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0,46% quoted at 7,047.46 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading at 12,228.09 points +0.51%. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,220.64 points, +0.22%.

U.S. stocks traded higher on Thursday with the focus on the upcoming earnings season. The nergy sector rebounded together with the price of oil. The S&P 500 closed +0.45% with a final quote of 2,091.18 points. The DOW JONES index added +0.31%, closing at 17,958.73 points. Yesterday's data showed that the number of initial jobless claims in the week ending April 04 in the U.S. rose by 14,000 to 281,000 from 267,000 in the previous week. The previous week's figure was revised up from 268,000. Analysts had expected the number of initial jobless claims to increase to 271,000.Wholesale inventories in the U.S. rose 0.3% in February, missing expectations for a 0.1% gain

Chinese stocks are trading higher on hopes on further stimulus measures by the Chinese government. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading +0.43% at 27,061.56 points. China's Shanghai Composite is currently trading at 4,017.96 points +1.53%, a fifth straight week of gains. On Wednesday the index surpassed the 4,000 points mark for the first time since 2008, doubling since January 2014. Early in the day Chinese CPI and PPI data for the month of March was reported. Year on year the PPI declined by -4.6%, slightly less than the predicted -4.7% and less than the previous reading of -4.8%. The consumer price inflation in March remained unchanged with a reading of +1.4%. Analyst expected a CPI reading of 1.3%.

The Nikkei moderately declined after setting a new 15-year high on Friday and trading above the 20,000 points mark. The index declined on profit taking -0.15% and closed at 19,907.63 points.

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

Nikkei 225 19,937.72 +147.91 +0.75 %

Hang Seng 26,944.39 +707.53 +2.70 %

S&P/ASX 200 5,932.22 -28.51 -0.48 %

Shanghai Composite 3,958.54 -36.27 -0.91 %

FTSE 100 7,015.36 +77.95 +1.12 %

CAC 40 5,208.95 +72.09 +1.40 %

Xetra DAX 12,166.44 +130.58 +1.08 %

S&P 500 2,091.18 +9.28 +0.45 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,974.57 +23.74 +0.48 %

Dow Jones 17,958.73 +56.22 +0.31 %