Most stock indices closed slightly higher despite the rejection of Greek loan proposal by Germany. Greece submitted a request for an extension of its existing loan agreement. But German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble replied that the Greek loan proposal was "not a substantial proposal for a solution".

The European Central Bank (ECB) released its minutes of January meeting, for the first time. According to the minutes, the most Governing Council members voted a EUR60 billion a month bond-purchase programme, mostly government bonds, to increase inflation and to spur economic growth in the Eurozone.

One member wants to consider buying corporate bonds.

Eurozone's adjusted current account surplus fell to €17.8 billion in December from €19.9 billion in November. November's figure was revised up from a surplus of €18.1 billion. Analysts had expected a surplus of €23.3 billion.

Eurozone's consumer confidence index rose to -6.7 in February from -8.5 in January. Analysts had expected the index to decrease to -8.0.

The CBI industrial order books balance for the U.K. climbed to +10% in February from +4% in January.

Analysts expected the CBI industrial order books balance to increase to +7%.

Volume of output for the next three months climbed to +25 in February, the highest level since September 2014, up from +13 in January.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,888.9 -9.18 -0.13 %

DAX 11,001.94 +40.94 +0.37 %

CAC 40 4,833.28 +34.25 +0.71 %

U.S. stock-index futures are mixed as oil prices tumbled a second day and Germany said it rejected a proposal from Greece to seek an extension of its loan facilities from euro-area creditors.

Global markets:

Nikkei 18,264.79 +65.62 +0.36%

FTSE 6,881.58 -16.50 -0.24%

CAC 4,826.63 +27.60 +0.58%

DAX 10,964.09 +3.09 +0.03%

Crude oil $49.84 (-4.39%)

Gold $1215.10 (-1.57%)

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

Upgrades:

Barrick Gold (ABX) upgraded from Hold to Buy at TD Securities, target raised from $15.50 to $16.50

Downgrades:

Other:

Apple (AAPL) target raised from $130 to $140 at RBC Capital Mkts

Amazon.com (AMZN) target raised from $420 to $475 at Piper Jaffray

Wal-Mart (WMT) earned $1.61 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $1.54. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 1.4% year-over-year to $130.65 billion, but missing analysts' estimate of $131.83 billion.

Wal-Mart (WMT) shares decreased to $86.00 (-0.34%) prior to the opening bell.

European stocks were little changed near a seven-year high, as an advance in Greek equities offset a decline in energy shares.

The Stoxx 600 rose on Wednesday to the highest level since November 2007 on speculation Greece will reach a deal. The gauge has surged 11 percent this year as the European Central Bank announced quantitative easing last month.

"The levels we see in the market right now are very elevated," said Heinz-Gerd Sonnenschein, a strategist at Deutsche Postbank AG in Bonn, Germany. "It was a strong start to the year, so it's time to take a breather now. Some investors are getting cold feet about oil stocks. Oil at $100 is a very long way away. Uncertainty regarding negotiations in Greece will keep us moving sideways in the short term."

U.S. and French officials called on Greece to compromise and the ECB granted the nation's lenders a small increase in emergency funds. Euro-area creditors want Greece to extend terms of its current aid package linked to austerity, a move that the country's government has opposed.

The ECB will publish on Thursday a summary of its monetary-policy meeting for the first time. The document will cover the Jan. 22 deliberations behind its decision to start buying government bonds.

Among stocks moving on corporate news, Centrica Plc tumbled 7.9 percent after cutting its dividend as it swung to a loss. Air France-KLM Group slipped 5.5 percent after saying profit fell last year.

Rexam Plc rallied 3.5 percent as Ball Corp. offered to buy its rival beverage-can maker for 628 pence a share. The London-based company also reported 2014 pretax profit that beat analysts' projections.

Randstad Holding NV rose 4.1 percent after saying organic sales growth accelerated in January.

Cap Gemini SA gained 5.9 percent after posting full-year net income that exceeded analysts' projections.

FTSE 100 6,894.54 -3.54 -0.05%

CAC 40 4,820.54 +21.51 +0.45%

DAX 10,989.6 +28.60 +0.26%

U.S. markets moderately declined on Wednesday recovering from early losses on weak U.S. economic data after the Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes release. The dovish minutes showed that the FED is concerned about raising benchmark interest rates too soon might harm the economic recovery. Today market participants await data including Initial Jobless Claims and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey.

On Wednesday the DOW JONES index lost -0.10% closing at 18,029.85 points. The S&P 500 closed -0.03% with a final quote of 2,099.68 declining from a record high hit yesterday by less than a point.

Chinese markets are closed today for a public holiday as the Lunar New year celebrations take place.

Japanese markets closed at a 15-year high in today's trading despite a stronger Japanese yen. The Nikkei added gains in early trading helped by financials and shipping companies, closing +0.36% with a final quote of 18,264.79 points - the highest level since 2000. Sony shares led gains as the company published a well perceived business plan. Yesterday the Bank of Japan held its unprecedented monetary policy steady. The outlook for exports and factory output was upgraded and consumption remains firm according to BOJ Governor Kuroda. The Japanese Adjusted Merchandise Trade Balance came in at -406.1 billion for January. Economists expected a reading of -600 billion.

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

Nikkei 225 18,199.17 +212.08 +1.18%

FTSE 100 6,898.08 -0.05 0.00%

CAC 40 4,799.03 +45.04 +0.95%

Xetra DAX 10,961 +65.38 +0.60%

S&P 500 2,099.68 -0.66 -0.03%

NASDAQ Composite 4,906.36 +7.10 +0.14%

Dow Jones 18,029.85 -17.73 -0.10%