The Federal Reserve Vice-Chairman Stanley Fischer said on Monday that the Fed will raise its interest rate before the end of the year.

"A smooth path upward in the federal funds rate will almost certainly not be realized, because, inevitably, the economy will encounter shocks", Fischer noted.

He pointed that when the Fed starts to hike its interest rate, interest rate could move "up and down" depending on the economy's performance.

Germany's Bundesbank released its monthly report on Monday. The central bank expects a strong growth of German economy in the first quarter of year.

"There are also signs of a continued vigorous upward economic movement in the second quarter," Bundesbank added.

The central bank noted that private consumption and the savings rate climbed in the fourth quarter of 2014.

"The currency union ought to be able to withstand the extreme case of the insolvency of a member state," Bundesbank also said.

Stock indices closed lower after comments by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. He told the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday that the economic growth in the Eurozone "is gaining momentum" due to in particular falling oil prices, higher external demand, easy financing conditions and a weaker euro.

Draghi noted that the central bank monitors closely any potential risks to financial stability in the Eurozone, and added that "currently these risks are contained".

Eurozone's consumer confidence index rose to -3.7 in March from -6.7 in February. Analysts had expected the index to climb to -6.0.

Germany's Bundesbank released its monthly report on Monday. The central bank expects a strong growth of German economy in the first quarter of year. "There are also signs of a continued vigorous upward economic movement in the second quarter," Bundesbank added.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) industrial order books balance dropped to zero in March from +10% in February. Analysts expected the CBI industrial order books balance to decrease to +9%.

The decline was driven by a stronger pound and a weak economy in the Eurozone.

Volume of output for the next three months fell to +22 in March, down from +25 in February.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 7,037.67 +15.16 +0.22 %

DAX 11,895.84 -143.53 -1.19 %

CAC 40 5,054.52 -32.97 -0.65 %

The European Central Bank (ECB) said on Monday that it purchased 26.3 billion euros of bonds in 10 days.

The central bank started its bond-buying programme on March 09. The ECB aims to purchase 60 billion euros of bonds per month until September 2016.

The ECB noted that its covered bond purchase programme totalled almost 60 billion euros as of March 20, while its asset-backed securities (ABS) programme totalled 4.008 billion euros.

The European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi told the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday that the economic growth in the Eurozone "is gaining momentum" due to in particular falling oil prices, higher external demand, easy financing conditions and a weaker euro.

Draghi noted that the central bank monitors closely any potential risks to financial stability in the Eurozone, and added that "currently these risks are contained".

The ECB president pointed out that consumer inflation in the Eurozone will remain very low or might decline below zero due to falling oil prices. Inflation is expected to rise towards the end of the year, he said.

Draghi pointed out that the pace of bond purchases is "on track", and there are no signs that there will not be enough bonds to purchase.

He also said that Greece and its lenders should continue bailout talks. Draghi believes that talks will be successful.

The National Association of Realtors released existing homes sales figures in the U.S. on Monday. Sales of existing homes rose 1.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.88 million in February from 4.82 million in January.

Analysts had expected an increase to 4.91 million units.

The NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said that sales still underperform, but house prices continue to rise.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed.

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,754.36 +194.14 +0.99%

Hang Seng 24,494.51 +119.27 +0.49%

Shanghai Composite 3,687.81 +70.49 +1.95%

FTSE 7,023.75 +1.24 +0.02%

CAC 5,049.01 -38.48 -0.76%

DAX 11,897.64 -141.73 -1.18%

Crude oil $45.97 (-1.29%)

Gold $1181.10 (-0.22%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

Facebook (FB) target raised from $84 to $92 at Piper Jaffray

Apple (AAPL) target raised from from $115 to $135

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released its industrial order books balance on Monday. The CBI industrial order books balance dropped to zero in March from +10% in February.

Analysts expected the CBI industrial order books balance to decrease to +9%.

The decline was driven by a stronger pound and a weak economy in the Eurozone.

The CBI's director for economics Rain Newton-Smith said that "sluggish export performance seems to be a headache that won't go away".

He noted that "measures in the budget to support exporters should be a welcome boost for the sector's longer-term prospects".

Volume of output for the next three months fell to +22 in March, down from +25 in February.

European indices extend early losses on Monday as renewed worries over Greece's future in the Eurozone emerged. Today German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas for the second time to discuss the matter of the Greek bailout. AT 14:30 GMT ECB president Mario Draghi will hold a speech at the European Parliament where Greece and its bailout will certainly be discussed.

U.K.'s Industrial Outlook for March declined from a previous reading of 10 to zero. Analyst expected a decline by 1 to 9.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.10% quoted at 7,015.73 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading lower at 11,892.51 points -1.12%. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,047.27 points, -0.79%.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday on more or less dovish FED comments ealier in the week that drove the greenback lower. The S&P 500 closed +0.90% with a final quote of 2,108.10 points. The energy sector booked the led gains. The DOW JONES index added gains and closed at 18,127.65 points, +0.94%.

Chinese stocks started the week on a strong note. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading higher +0.43% at 24,480.06 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,687.81 points closing +1.95% - up for a eighth consecutive day and setting a new high at 3,688.34 points. Gains were led by technology and property companies.

The Nikkei continued its rally-mode and set a new 15-year high on tracking strong gains on Wall Street. The index closed +0.99% with a final quote of 19,754.36 points - little more than 1% to go for the 20,000 points milestone and the highest closing level since April 2000.

European stocks fail to track gains in Asia and the U.S. and take a breather from the recent rally and open lower on Monday amid renewed concerns over the situation in Greece. Markets were supported on Friday when Greek officials said that they are moving forward on a detailed reform-plan in order to meet the requirements for additional bailout funds. Investors will closely watch ECB president Mario Draghi's speech before the European Parliament where Greece will be in the focus. Today German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas for the second time to discuss the matter of the Greek bailout.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.32% quoted at 7,000.11 points with the mining sector broadly lower. Germany's DAX 30 is trading lower at 11,930.80 points -0.90%. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,061.91 points, -0.51%.

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

S&P/ASX 200 5,975.49 +24.68 +0.41%

TOPIX 1,580.51 +4.70 +0.30%

SHANGHAI COMP 3,617.45 +35.18 +0.98%

HANG SENG 24,375.24 -93.65 -0.38%

FTSE 100 7,022.51 +60.19 +0.86 %

CAC 40 5,087.49 +50.31 +1.00 %

Xetra DAX 12,039.37 +139.97 +1.18 %

S&P 500 2,108.1 +18.83 +0.90 %

NASDAQ Composite 5,026.42 +34.04 +0.68 %

Dow Jones 18,127.65 +168.62 +0.94 %