Stock indices closed higher, supported by the European Central Bank's quantitative easing. The European Central Bank has started to buy government bonds last Monday.

The European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is scheduled to speak at 18:45 GMT0.

Market participants are awaiting the Fed's monetary policy decision on Wednesday.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,804.08 +63.50 +0.94 %

DAX 12,167.72 +266.11 +2.24 %

CAC 40 5,061.16 +50.70 +1.01 %

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) assistant governor Guy Debelle said that the inflation in the U.S. is low due to falling oil prices, and it is temporary. He added that the Fed won't delay its interest rate hike.

Mr Debelle also said that foreign investors are buying most Australian government bonds because of Australia's AAA credit rating.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its housing market index for the U.S. on Monday. The NAHB housing market index declined to 53 in March from 55 in February. It was the third consecutive decline.

Analysts had expected the index to rise at 57.

A level above 50.0 is considered positive, below indicates a negative outlook.

The NAHB Chairman, Tom Woods, said that the NAHB expects the index to improve in the spring buying season.

The NAHB Chief Economist, David Crowe noted that "the drop in builder confidence is largely attributable to supply chain issues, such as lot and labor shortages as well as tight underwriting standards".

The Federal Reserve released its industrial production report on Monday. The U.S. industrial production increased 0.1% in February, missing expectations for a 0.3% rise, after a 0.3% drop in January. January's figure was revised down from a 0.2% increase.

The increase was driven by higher output of utilities. Utility output climbed by 7.3% in February.

Mining output dropped by 2.5% in February.

The U.S. manufacturing production decreased 0.2% in February, after a revised 0.3% fall in January.

Capacity utilisation rate fell to 78.9% in February from 79.1% in January. Analysts had expected a capacity utilisation rate of 79.5%.

The Fed tend to use capacity utilisation as a signal of how much "slack" remains in the economy.

These figures are pointing to a slower economic growth in the U.S. in the first quarter.

Statistics Canada released foreign investment figures on Monday. Foreign securities purchases in Canada rose by C$5.73 billion in January, exceeding expectations for a gain by C$3.74 billion, after a drop by C$13.54 billion in December.

December's figure was revised up from a decline by C$13.55 billion.

Canadian investors sold C$10.8 billion of foreign securities in January, after buying C$13.89 billion in December.

Canada's international transactions were driven by lower oil prices, stock prices and a lower Canadian dollar.

U.S. stock-index futures rose. Investor aweited Federal Reserve meeting.

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,246.06 -8.19 -0.04%

Hang Seng 23,949.55 +126.34 +0.53%

Shanghai Composite 3,448.49 +75.58 +2.24%

FTSE 6,767.29 +26.71 +0.40%

CAC 5,042.98 +32.52 +0.65%

DAX 12,070.16 +168.55 +1.42%

Crude oil $44.15 (-1.54%)

Gold $1153.30 (+0.09%)

The New York Federal Reserve released its survey on Monday. The NY Fed Empire State manufacturing index declined to 6.90 in March from 7.78 in February, missing expectations for a rise to 8.1.

The decline was driven by a drop in new orders. The new orders index plunged to -2.39 in March from 1.22 in February. It was the lowest level since November 2013.

"Business activity continued to expand at a modest pace for New York manufacturers," the report said.

The price-paid index declined to 12.37 in March from 14.61 in February.

The index for the number of employees rose to 18.56 in March from 10.11 last month. It was the highest level since May 2014.

The general business conditions expectations index for the next six months climbed to 30.72 in March from 25.58 in February.

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Walt Disney (DIS) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BTIG Research

DuPont (DD) downgraded to Underperform from Buy at BofA/Merrill

Other:

The Federal Statistical Office released its producer and import prices data on Monday. Switzerland's producer and import prices declined 1.4% in February, missing expectations for a 0.4% increase, after a 0.6% fall in January. That was the biggest decline since November 2008.

On a yearly basis, producer and import prices decreased 3.6% in February, after a 2.7% drop in January. That was the lowest level since October 2009.

The decline was driven by lower oil prices and a stronger Swiss franc.

European stocks trade higher on Monday despite Friday's losses on Wall Street with the German DAX trading again at new all-time highs - breaching the 12,000 points mark. The weaker euro, slightly rebounding from new 12-year lows set on Friday, is supporting export-heavy sectors and investors speculate on higher earnings. Worries over Greece continue to weigh but equities remain supported by the ECB's quantitative easing program started on Monday last week. The ECB is buying bonds worth 60 billion euros a month. Today's speech of ECB President Mario Draghi scheduled for 18:45 will be in the focus.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.52% quoted at 6,775.41, boosted by gains in the mining sector. Germany's DAX 30 added +1.12% trading at 12,034.34 setting a new all-time high at 12,054.30 points with Siemens being among the top performers on news of a deal in Egypt. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,048.11 points, +0.75%.

European stocks open higher on Monday despite Friday's losses on Wall Street with the German DAX and the Fremch CAC40 extending its all-time highs. The weaker euro, slightly rebounding from new 12-year lows set on Friday, is supporting export-heavy sectors. Worries over Greece continue to weigh but equities remain supported by the ECB's quantitative easing program started on Monday last week. The ECB is buying bonds worth 60 billion euros a month. Today's speech of ECB President Mario Draghi scheduled for 18:45 will be in the focus.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.33% quoted at 6,763.02 as mining stocks add gains. Germany's DAX 30 gained +0.74% trading at 11,989.38 points, close to the next psychologically important mark 0f 12,000 points. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,033.44 points, +0.46%.

U.S. stocks continued to decline on Friday on weaker-than-expected U.S. data and a broadly stronger U.S.dollar. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index dropped and U.S. producer prices fell 0.5% in February. All eyes will be on the FED's interest rate decision and the following statement this week on Wednesday. Investors hope that the minutes will provide further insight into when the Central Bank is going to hike rates. The S&P 500 closed -0.61% with a final quote of 2,053.40 points. The DOW JONES index lost -0.82% closing at 17,749.31 points.

Chinese stocks continued to add gains on Monday on comments of Prime Minister Li Keqiang who said that there is a broad scope of measures left to boost economy if needed as the country had avoided to use short term stimulus in recent years. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading higher +0.47% at 23,935.23 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,448.49 points skyrocketing +2.24%.

The Nikkei could not add gains at the closing on Monday and retreated slightly from its new 15-year high set intraday on profit taking after the recent rally. The index closed -0.04% with a final quote of 19,246.06 points.

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

Nikkei 225 19,254.25 +263.14 +1.39 %

Hang Seng 23,823.21 +25.25 +0.11 %

Shanghai Composite 3,373.79 +24.46 +0.73 %

FTSE 100 6,740.58 -20.49 -0.30 %

CAC 40 5,010.46 +23.13 +0.46 %

Xetra DAX 11,901.61 +102.22 +0.87 %

S&P 500 2,053.4 -12.55 -0.61 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,871.76 -21.53 -0.44 %

Dow Jones 17,749.31 -145.91 -0.82 %