Stock indices traded higher on comments by the ECB president. The European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said at the press conference today that the central bank will launch an expanded asset purchase programme of 60 billion euro a month starting from March 2015 until September 2016.

The central bank kept its interest rate unchanged at 0.05%.

Eurozone's consumer confidence index rose to -8.5 in January from -10.9 in December. Analysts had expected the index to increase to -10.5.

The public sector net borrowing in the U.K. rose to £13.1 billion in December from £10.3 billion a year earlier, missing expectations for a decline to £9.2 billion.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,796.63 +68.59 +1.02%

DAX 10,435.62 +136.39 +1.32%

CAC 40 4,552.8 +67.98 +1.52%

U.S. stock-index futures rose as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi announced an expanded asset-purchase program to spur growth and counter deflationary pressures.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,329.02 +48.54 +0.28%

Hang Seng 24,522.63 +170.05 +0.70%

Shanghai Composite 3,344.4 +20.79 +0.63%

FTSE 6,773 +44.96 +0.67%

CAC 4,528.24 +43.42 +0.97%

DAX 10,363.72 +64.49 +0.63%

Crude oil $48.29 (+1.11%)

Gold $1289.60 (-0.24%)

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

Upgrades:

eBay (EBAY) upgrade from Underweight to Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley

Downgrades:

Other:

Cisco Systems (CSCO) reiterated Piper Jaffray at Overweight, target raised from $26 to $33

Travelers Companies Inc (TRV) earned $3.07 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $2.53. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 2.2% year-over-year to $5.98 billion, missing analysts' estimate of $5.99 billion.

Book value rose 10% to $77.08 per share, while adjusted book value climbed 7% to $70.98.

Travelers Companies Inc (TRV) shares increased to $107.00 (+1.90%) prior to the opening bell.

Verizon Communications (VZ) earned $0.71 per share in the fourth quarter, in line with analysts' estimate. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 6.8% year-over-year to $33.19 billion, beating analysts' estimate of $32.68 billion.

The company forecasts revenue of $132,20 billion in 2015 (analysts' estimate: $129.82 billion).

Verizon Communications (VZ) shares decreased to $47.95 (-0.62%) prior to the opening bell.

European indices trade mixed today amid expectations on further stimulus measures launched by the ECB after its policy today .All eyes are on the press conference scheduled for 13:30 GMT to unveil size and details of the broadly expected stimulus program.

The ECB president will probably announce a 550 billion-euro bond purchase program, according to Bloomberg. Although markets are supported by the ECB's plans for QE investors' concerns over the outcome and the consequences of the Greek elections on January 25^th are still weighing as the next Greek government will have to decide whether to extend the international bailout or not. The anti-austerity party Syriza leads in polls by almost 5%.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index is trading +0.27% quoted at 6,746.18 although U.K. industrial order expectations unexpectedly worsened in January with a reading of 4 compared to forecasts of 6. France's CAC 40 lost -0.18% trading at 4,476.88. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading -0.25% at 10,273.03 points, retreating from the all-time high hit yesterday at 10,313,23 points.

European indices almost flat in early trading ahead of today's highly anticipated ECB policy meeting after insiders revealed yesterday that the Executive Board proposed that the bank should buy 50 billion euro in bonds from March 1^st on to fight inflation and spur the slowing Eurozone's economy. We look ahead to a volatile trading session when the size and shape of quantitative easing will be unveiled. Although markets are supported by the ECB investors' concerns over the outcome and the consequences of the Greek elections on January 25^th are still weighing as the next Greek government will have to decide whether to extend the international bailout or not. The anti-austerity party Syriza leads in polls by almost 5%.

The FTSE 100, the most commodity heavy index is currently trading +0.21% supported by mining stocks quoted at 6,742.37 points. Markets await data on U.K.'s PSNB and CBI Industrial Order Books Balance due 09:30 GMT respectively 11:00 GMT. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.04% trading at 10,295.13 almost flat after yesterday's all-time high at 10,311.90 points. France's CAC 40 added +0.04%, currently trading at 4,486.59 points.

After the ECB press conference at 13:30 GMT markets await U.S. data on Initial Jobless Claims and the Housing Price Index and later in the session Eurozone's Consumer Confidence.

U.S. markets closed higher on Wednesday for a third day fuelled by rising energy shares as crude rallied and the prospect of further stimulus from the ECB. The U.S. Commerce Department released the housing market data on Wednesday. Housing starts in the U.S. rose 4.4% to 1.089 million annualized rate in December from a 1.043 million pace in November, beating expectations for a decrease to 1.040 million. November's figure was revised up from 1.028 million units. The DOW JONES index added +0.22%, closing at 17,554.28. The S&P 500 added +0.47% with a final quote of 2,032.12 points, rising over 2% in the last 3 days.

Chinese stock markets continued to rise. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading +0.72% at 24,528.04 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,344.4 points +0.63%, after yesterday's biggest one-day rise since 2009 with +4.74%.

Japan's Nikkei added gains on Thursday, closing +0.28% with a final quote of 17,329.02. A weaker Japanese yen after surging the previous day lend support to exporter shares. Yesterday the Bank of Japan kept its target for the monetary base unchanged after its bond-buying program started in October and cut its inflation forecast for 2015 from 1.7% to 1%.

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

Nikkei 225 17,280.48 -85.82 -0.49%

Hang Seng 24,352.58 +401.42 +1.68%

Shanghai Composite 3,323.44 +150.39 +4.74%

FTSE 100 6,728.04 +107.94 +1.63%

CAC 40 4,484.82 +38.80 +0.87%

Xetra DAX 10,299.23 +42.10 +0.41%

S&P 500 2,032.12 +9.57 +0.47%

NASDAQ Composite 4,667.42 +12.57 +0.27%

Dow Jones 17,554.28 +39.05 +0.22%