Stock indices closed higher as inflation in the U.K. declines to the lowest level since May 2000.

The U.K. consumer price index declined to an annual rate of 0.5% in December from 1.0% in November. Analysts had expected the consumer price inflation to decrease to 0.7%.

On monthly basis, consumer price inflation in the U.K. was flat in December, missing forecasts of a 0.1% rise, after a 0.3% decline in November.

Consumer price inflation excluding food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco increased to an annual rate of 1.3% in November from 1.2% in November. Analysts had expected the consumer inflation to climb to 1.4%.

The Bank of England's inflation target is about 2%.

Investors speculate that Bank of England will keep interest rates on hold for a longer period.

The Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday that he expects inflation to decline in coming months, but he believes inflation will be near the central bank's 2% target within two years.

There were released no major economic reports in the Eurozone.

The European Central Bank (ECB) executive board member Benoit Coeure told German newspaper Die Welt that the central bank has discussed about whether to implement a sovereign bond-buying programme last week. He noted that the ECB could take a decision on its policy meeting on January 22.

Coeure pointed out that Greece's parliament election on January 25 would not influence the ECB's monetary policy.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,542.2 +40.78 +0.63%

DAX 9,941 +159.10 +1.63%

CAC 40 4,290.28 +62.04 +1.47%

U.S. stock-index futures climbed as Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. paced gains in technology shares and Alcoa Inc.'s earnings spurred speculation the economy is picking up speed.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,087.71 -110.02 -0.64%

Hang Seng 24,215.97 +189.51 +0.79%

Shanghai Composite 3,236.4 +7.08 +0.22%

FTSE 6,533.8 +32.38 +0.50%

CAC 4,281.22 +52.98 +1.25%

DAX 9,893.75 +111.85 +1.14%

Crude oil $44.86 (-2.76%)

Gold $1239.10 (+0.51%)

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

Upgrades:

Amazon.com (AMZN) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup

Apple (AAPL) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse, target raised to $130 from $110

Downgrades:

Other:

European indices added in today's trading continuing to rise for a second day supported by retail stocks as low oil prices could spur consumer spending. The energy sector scored losses as oil is trading near six-year lows continuing its slump. Brent dropped below USD45 in today's trading. U.K.'s consumer prices slowed to 0.5% in December, below estimates of 0.7%, falling under 1% with the lowest reading since May 2000.

Investors are looking forward to the European Central Bank policy meeting taking place on January 22^nd and the Greek elections on January 25^th where the anti-austerity party Syriza, that wants to renegotiate debt, is leading polls. As the Eurozone faces the risk of deflation the possibility of the ECB to buy government bonds is growing. Low oil prices further spur the speculations that the ECB will have to act rather sooner than later.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index added +0.59% quoted at 6,539.94 adding to its early gains. France's CAC 40 gained +0.94% trading at 4,268.10 after a negative start. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading +1.06% at 9,885.92.

European indices trade higher in early trading with solid gains of retail-stocks and amid speculations on full-scale quantitative easing being decided at the next ECB-meeting taking place on January 22^nd. As the Eurozone faces the risk of deflation the possibility of the ECB to buy government bonds is growing.

Energy stocks were under pressure again as the slump in oil prices continued with Crude currently quoted at USD45.76 near six-year lows amid speculations that U.S. stockpiles will increase.

Markets look ahead to U.K.'s Retail and Producer Prices and HICP due at 09:30 GMT.

U.S. equity markets point to a slightly positive open.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.40% quoted at 6,527.63 points ahead of December inflation data, Germany's DAX 30 added +0.11% trading at 9,793.07. France's CAC 40 declined by -0.03%, currently trading at 4,226.77 points.

U.S. markets closed lower on Monday for a straight second trading session. Stocks on Wall Street were weighed by a slump in oil prices after Goldman Sachs cut its price forecasts for 2015 sending the energy-sector south. The DOW JONES index lost -0.54% or 96 points, closing at 17,640.84. The S&P 500 declined by -0.81% with a final quote of 2,028.26. Global economic weakness, slumping oil prices and the upcoming Greek elections continue to weigh on the markets.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng added +0.85% to 24,231.34 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,236.40 points, a gain of +0.22% as market participants continued to take profits. China's trade balance fell more-than-expected, official data showed on Tuesday. The trade balance fell to a surplus of 49.1 billion in December from 54.50 in November. Analysts expected a reading of 49.85 billion.

Japan's Nikkei, after being closed yesterday due to a bank holiday in Japan lost -0.64% closing at 17,087.71 points. Weak U.S. markets and the fall in oil prices weighed the index down but losses were trimmed as the Japanese yen weakened against the greenback. . The current Eco Watchers Survey, the index for Japan's current economic climate rose unexpectedly to 45.2 points beating forecasts of 44.3 after it plunged to a 12-month low of 41.5 in November. The index outlook rose by 2.7 to 46.7 from a previous reading of 44.0 points. Yesterday current account data showed a surplus of 433 for November. Analysts expected a reading of 133.2.

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

Hang Seng 24,026.46 +106.51 +0.45%

Shanghai Composite 3,231.06 -54.35 -1.65%

FTSE 100 6,501.42 +0.28 0.00%

CAC 40 4,228.24 +49.17 +1.18%

Xetra DAX 9,781.9 +133.40 +1.38%

S&P 500 2,028.26 -16.55 -0.81%

NASDAQ Composite 4,664.71 -39.36 -0.84%

Dow Jones 17,640.84 -96.53 -0.54%