Stock indices closed higher on signs the ECB will add further stimulus. European stocks reached their highest level since 2008. European Central Bank Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said on Friday in a newspaper interview that the bond-buying programme must be big to be efficient.

Eurozone's consumer price index dropped 0.1% in December, beating expectations for a 0.2% decline, after a 0.2% decrease in November.

On a yearly basis, Eurozone's consumer price inflation remained unchanged at 0.2% in December, in line with expectations.

Eurozone's consumer price inflation excluding food, energy, alcohol and tobacco declined to an annual rate of 0.7% in December from 0.8% in November. Analysts had expected inflation to remain unchanged.

Germany's final consumer price index was flat in December, in line with expectations.

On a yearly basis, German final consumer price index remained at 0.2% in December, in line with expectations.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,550.27 +51.49 +0.79%

DAX 10,167.77 +135.16 +1.35%

CAC 40 4,379.62 +56.42 +1.31%

U.S. stock-index futures pared losses as data showed the cost of living declined by the most in six years amid a plunge in energy costs, increasing speculation the Federal Reserve will remain patient in its plans to raise interest rates.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,864.16 -244.54 -1.43%

Hang Seng 24,103.52 -247.39 -1.02%

Shanghai Composite 3,377.43 +40.98 +1.23%

FTSE 6,503.25 +4.47 +0.07%

CAC 4,326.73 +3.53 +0.08%

DAX 10,026.43 -6.18 -0.06%

Crude oil $47.00 (+1.26%)

Gold $1265.60 (+0.06%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Intel (INTC) downgrade from Buy to Mkt Perform at Charter Equity

Other:

Walt Disney (DIS) target raised to $110 from $96 at Stifel

Intel (INTC) target raised from $39 to $41 at Stifel

Apple (AAPL) target raised from $120 to $123 at RBC Capital Mkts

Intel (INTC) target lowered from $38 to $36 at Cowen

Goldman Sachs (GS) earned $4.38 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $4.32. Revenue in the fourth quarter dropped 8.3% year-over-year to $7.69 billion, beating analysts' estimate of $7.64 billion.

Goldman Sachs (GS) shares decreased to $175.50 (-1.68%) prior to the opening bell.

Intel (INTC) earned $0.74 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $0.66. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 6.4% year-over-year to $14.72 billion, beating analysts' estimate of $14.71 billion.

Revenue per business segment:

PC Client Group: $8.9 billion (+3% y/y);

Data Center Group: $4.1 billion (+25%);

Internet of Things Group: $591 million (+10% y/y);

Software and services operating segments: $557 million (-6% y/y).

The company forecast first-quarter revenue of $13.2-$14.2 billion (analysts' estimate: $13.77 billion). Intel (INTC) expect that its revenue will increase 5% (analysts' estimate: +4%) in the full fiscal year 2015.

Intel (INTC) shares decreased to $36.20 (-0.11%) prior to the opening bell.

Yesterday European indices sharply declined after the SNB decided to discontinue the minimum exchange rate of 1.20 per euro and lowered interest rates more into negative territory to -0.75. The surprise move erased early gains driven by a recovery in commodities. The Swiss franc rallied against its major peers and Swiss stocks plunged. Later in the day markets recovered and posted solid gains in volatile trading.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index is trading flat at+0.10% quoted at 6,498.88. France's CAC 40 added +0.55% trading at 4,347.09. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading +0.22% above the psychologically important level of 10,000 at 10,054.54. Energy shares offset the continuous slump on the Swiss market amid rising oil prices. Indices were further supported from ongoing speculation that the ECB will announce to start QE on the next policy meeting taking place on January 22^nd.

A report form Eurostat said that harmonized Consumer Price Inflation on a yearly basis remained unchanged and in line with estimates at -0.2%. Harmonized CPI ex EFAT, excluding the volatile energy and food items costs, was 0.1% below expectations at +0.7%. CPI for December was at -0.1%. Analysts expected data to show a reading of -0.2%.

U.S. markets closed lower on Wednesday for a fifth day as bank results disappointed and energy shares extended losses on falling oil prices. According to Reuters expectations for U.S. fourth-quarter earnings have been scaled back sharply. The SNB's decision to scrap its cap to the franc further added to volatility. A mixed set of economic data added to the negative sentiment. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank released its manufacturing index on Thursday. The index dropped to 6.3 in January from 24.5 in December. That was the lowest level since February 2014. Analysts had expected the index to decline to 20.3. The DOW JONES index lost -0.61%, declining by 106 points, closing at 17,320.71. The S&P 500 declined by -0.92% with a final quote of 1,992.67, falling below the level of 2,000 points for the first time in a month.

Chinese stock markets were mixed on Friday amid speculation the government will increase stimulus to boost economic growth. Hong Kong's Hang Seng trading -0.80% at 24,156.92 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,377.43 points, adding +1.23% extending its longest weekly winning streak in 8 years.

Japan's Nikkei fell to a 2-½ moth low during trade. The index closed -1.43 at 16,864.16 points falling for a third week. A strong yen as a result of flight to safety weighed Japanese stocks down. At markets close speculations on pension funds and the BOJ buying stocks trimmed losses and investors saw the sharp decline in prices as buying opportunity.

European indices are negative after yesterday's rebound in very volatile markets following the selloff after the surprise decision of the SNB to scrap of the currency cap and further lower interest rates to minus 0.75%. The move indicates that the SNB sees a high chance that the ECB will implement quantitative easing after its policy meeting on January 22^nd. The Swiss Market Index SMI extended losses today trading -3.88% following yesterday's biggest slump since 1989.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.43% quoted at 6,470.72 points, Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.27% trading at 10,005.11, back above the important level of 10,000 points. France's CAC 40 declined by -0.11%, currently trading at 4,318.57 points. German data on CPI for December was in line with expectations with 0.0% on a monthly, and +0.2% on a yearly basis with no changes to the previous data.

Market participants are looking forward to the publication of the Eurozone's harmonized CPI data on inflation. Later in the day market participants will closely watch data on U.S. CPI, Industrial Production, Capacity Utilization and the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.

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

Nikkei 225 17,108.7 +312.74 +1.86%

Hang Seng 24,350.91 +238.31 +0.99%

Shanghai Composite 3,336.45 +114.02 +3.54%

FTSE 100 6,498.78 +110.32 +1.73%

CAC 40 4,323.2 +99.96 +2.37%

Xetra DAX 10,032.61 +215.53 +2.20%

S&P 500 1,992.67 -18.60 -0.92%

NASDAQ Composite 4,570.82 -68.50 -1.48%

Dow Jones 17,320.71 -106.38 -0.61%