Stock indices closed higher as the European Commission said that it commits €2 billion to help Greece and on quantitative easing by the European Central Bank.

Eurozone's adjusted current account surplus rose to €29.4 billion in January from €22.5 billion in December. December's figure was revised up from a surplus of €17.8 billion. Analysts had expected a surplus of €21.3 billion.

The public sector net borrowing in the U.K. climbed to £6.2 billion in February from -£8.9 billion in January, exceeding expectations for a rise to £7.7 billion. January's figure was revised up from -£9.7 billion.

The decline was driven by a strong recovery income taxes.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 7,022.51 +60.19 +0.86 %

DAX 12,039.37 +139.97 +1.18 %

CAC 40 5,087.49 +50.31 +1.00 %

Ex Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Richard Fisher said on Friday that stocks in the U.S. are "hyper-overpriced" in part because interest rate remained low too long. He added that he think that there will be a significant equity market correction.

The Atlanta Federal Reserve President Dennis Lockhart said on Friday that U.S. regulators should intensify monitoring of shadow banks. He added that too much regulation could hurt economic growth.

"Shadow banking activity is large, growing, and opaque," he noted.

The Office for National Statistics released public sector net borrowing for the U.K. on Friday. The public sector net borrowing in the U.K. climbed to £6.2 billion in February from -£8.9 billion in January, exceeding expectations for a rise to £7.7 billion. January's figure was revised up from -£9.7 billion.

The decline was driven by a strong recovery income taxes. Income tax related payments climbed 16.3%, corporation tax rose 11.9%, while stamp duties dropped 9.6%.

Statistics Canada released retail sales data on Friday. Canadian retail sales plunged by 1.7% in January, missing expectations for a 0.3% decline, after a 1.8% drop in December. December's figure was revised up from a 2.0% decline.

The drop was driven by lower new cars sales.

Sales at gasoline stations dropped 8.8% in January, the largest decline since November 2008.

Motor vehicle and parts sales fell 1.4%.

Canadian retail sales excluding automobiles dropped 1.8% in January, missing expectations for a 0.1% increase, after a 2.0% fall in December. December's figure was revised up from a 2.3% decrease.

Statistics Canada released consumer price inflation data on Friday. Canadian consumer price inflation increased 0.9% in February, beating expectations for a 0.7% rise, after a 0.2% drop in January.

On a yearly basis, the consumer price index remained unchanged at 1.0% February. It was the lowest since November 2013.

The consumer price index was driven by price increases in seven of the index's eight major components.

Gasoline prices plunged 21.8% in February, while natural gas rose 10.8%.

Food prices increased 3.9%.

Canadian core consumer price index, which excludes some volatile goods, increased 0.6% in February, exceeding expectations for a 0.5% gain, after a 0.2% rise in January.

On a yearly basis, core consumer price index in Canada declined to 2.1% in February from 2.2% in January.

The Bank of Canada's inflation target is the range of 1% to 3%.

U.S. stock-index futures rose as indexes head towards their biggest weekly gain in five.

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,560.22 +83.66 +0.43%

Hang Seng 24,375.24 -93.65 -0.38%

Shanghai Composite 3,617.45 +35.18 +0.98%

FTSE 6,979.36 +17.04 +0.24%

CAC 5,070.31 +33.13 +0.66%

DAX 12,047.91 +148.51 +1.25%

Crude oil $45.40 (-0.33%)

Gold $1170.90 (+0.16%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

NIKE (NKE) target raised to $106 from $99 at Credit Suisse, Outperform

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Glenn Stevens said in a speech in Melbourne on Friday that while interest rate is expected to be hiked in the U.S., interest rate in Australia it is expected to be cut. He noted that interest rate hike in the U.S. will bring turbulence in asset and financial markets.

Stevens thinks that the Australian dollar is likely to depreciate further despite the recent decline.

The RBA governor pointed out that a weaker Australian dollar is assisting the major transition from mining driven growth to other sectors of Australia's economy.

Stevens also said that Australian businesses and households are less optimistic about the future.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) released its minutes from February meeting. The central bank said that Japan's economy continues to recover moderately.

The BoJ board members noted that stimulus measures have the desired effects. They added that consumer inflation slowed due to falling energy prices.

The central bank voted 8-1 to keep its monetary policy unchanged.

Japan's central bank downgraded its consumer inflation forecast to around 0.5% from the range of 0.5% - 1.0%.

European indices are trading higher at the end of the week amid hopes on a progress in the negotiations between the E.U and Greece. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras assured European Union creditors that Greece will soon submit a concrete program of reforms. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that Greece's financial situation is dangerous. The FED's statement on Wednesday lends further support as FED chair Yellen indicated that rates will rise at a slower pace - although dropping the word 'patient' from the minutes.

German Producer Price Index rose +0.1% month on month, below the estimated growth of +0.2%. Year on year the decline was slower, at -2.1% compared to -2.2%.

Eurozone's adjusted Current Account published by the ECB for January rose from revised 22.5 billion to 29.4 billion, above the estimated 21.3 billion. The unadjusted Current Account declined from 35.2 billion to 8.2 billion.

U.K.'s Public Sector Net Borrowing rose less-than-expected to a seasonally adjusted 6.2 billion in February. Analysts expected an increase of 7.7 billion.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading higher, quoted at 6,971.31 +0.13%. Germany's DAX 30 added +1.18% trading at 12,039.78 points. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,048.69 points, +0.23%.

European stocks open higher at the end of the week amid hopes on a progress in the negotiations between the E.U and Greece. Greece agreed on working on a new reform plan to prevent the country from bankruptcy. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that Greece's financial situation is dangerous. The FED's statement on Wednesday lends further support as FED chair Yellen indicated that rates will rise at a slower pace - although dropping the word 'patient' from the minutes - predicting lower economic growth and inflation.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.17% quoted at 6,974.06 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading higher at 11,954.35 points +0.46%. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,045.91 points, +0.17%.

U.S. stocks declined on Thursday after markets rallied a day earlier on FED chair Janet Yellens more dovish comments that a future interest rate hike will follow a lower trajectory and lowered the forecasts for growth and inflation. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's manufacturing index declined to 5.0 in March from 5. 2 in February, missing expectations for a rise to 7.3. That was the lowest reading since February 2014. The number of initial jobless claims in the week ending March 14 in the U.S. rose by 1,000 to 291,000 from 290,000 in the previous week - still indicating a solid labour market.

The S&P 500 closed -0.49% with a final quote of 2,089.27 points. The DOW JONES index traded lower -0.65% closing at 17,959.03 points.

Chinese stocks were mixed on Friday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading lower -0.33% at 24,388.61 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,617.45 points +0.98% - up for an eighth consecutive day and setting intraday a new 7-year high at 3,632.34 points. Brokerages and technology shares recorded the biggest gains. The index rallied over 7% this week. Markets were supported by Premier Li Keqiang comments on Sunday to further stimulate the economy if necessary

The Nikkei continued its rally-mode reversing early losses and set a new 15-year high on Friday - the highest closing since April 2000. The index closed +0.43% with a final quote of 19,560.22 points.

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

Nikkei 225 19,476.56 -67.92 -0.35 %

Hang Seng 24,468.89 +348.81 +1.45 %

Shanghai Composite 3,582.75 +5.44 +0.15 %

FTSE 100 6,962.32 +17.12 +0.25 %

CAC 40 5,037.18 +3.76 +0.07 %

Xetra DAX 11,899.4 -23.37 -0.20 %

S&P 500 2,089.27 -10.23 -0.49 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,992.38 +9.55 +0.19 %

Dow Jones 17,959.03 -117.16 -0.65 %