Most stock indices closed higher on the better-than-expected economic data from the Eurozone. German preliminary consumer price index rose 0.9% in February, exceeding expectations for a 0.6% increase, after a 1.1% drop in January.

On a yearly basis, German preliminary consumer price index increased to 0.1% in February from -0.4% in January.

The increase was driven by lower decline in energy and food prices.

French consumer spending increased 0.6% in January from a year earlier, after a 1.6% rise. December's figure was revised up from a 1.5% gain.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,946.66 -3.07 -0.04 %

DAX 11,401.66 +74.47 +0.66 %

CAC 40 4,951.48 +40.86 +0.83 %

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its pending home sales figures for the U.S. on Friday. Pending home sales in the U.S. rose 1.7% in January, missing expectations for a 2.5% increase, after a 1.5% decline in December. December's figure was revised up from a 3.7% drop.

The NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun said that contract activity is increasing.

The Institute for Supply Management released its Chicago purchasing managers' index on Friday. The index declined to 45.8 in February from 59.4 in January, missing expectations for a fall to 58.4. That was the lowest level since July 2009.

A reading below the 50 mark indicates contraction.

The decline was driven by drops in production, new orders, order backlogs and employment.

The U.S. Commerce Department released gross domestic product (GDP) figures on Friday. The U.S. revised GDP grew 2.2% in the fourth quarter, lower than the previous estimated growth of 2.6%.

Analysts had expected U.S. GDP to rise 2.1%.

Consumer spending rose by 4.2% in the fourth quarter, the fastest pace since the first of 2006.

Business investment slowed in the fourth quarter and grew at 4.8% in fourth quarter.

Exports climbed 3.2% due to a stronger dollar and trouble in Asia and Europe.

U.S. stock-index futures fell slightly as the economy expanded at a slower pace in the fourth quarter than previously reported.

Global markets:

Nikkei 18,797.94 +12.15 +0.06%

Hang Seng 24,823.29 -78.77 -0.32%

Shanghai Composite 3,310.72 +12.36 +0.37%

FTSE 6,941.63 -8.10 -0.12%

CAC 4,920.07 +9.45 +0.19%

DAX 11,323.38 -3.81 -0.03%

Crude oil $48.88 (+1.45%)

Gold $1209.60 (-0.04%)

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

Destatis released its consumer price inflation data for Germany on Friday. German preliminary consumer price index rose 0.9% in February, exceeding expectations for a 0.6% increase, after a 1.1% drop in January.

On a yearly basis, German preliminary consumer price index increased to 0.1% in February from -0.4% in January.

The increase was driven by lower decline in energy and food prices. Energy prices plunged 7.3% in February, after a 9% drop in the previous month. Food prices decreased 0.4%, after a 1.3% fall in January.

European stocks paused the recent rally on Friday. Markets remain cautious about the Greek debt deal. The IMF and the ECB warned that the reform plans are not detailed enough and Athens will have to take further steps to ensure further bailout releases.

French Consumer Spending declined -0.9% in January, more than the expected -0.3%. Year on year Consumer Spending rose +0.6% compared to +0.5%. Data on German CPI due at 13:00 GMT will be in the focus.

Today's focus will be on German CPI and later in the day U.S. GDP, Pending home Sales and the Chicago Purchasing Managers' Index as well as the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.20% quoted at 6,938.83. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.12% trading at 11,313.81, close to its new all-time high. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 4,914.90 points, +0.09%.

BLOOMBERG

Saudis' Oil Price War Is Paying Off

(Bloomberg) -- Three months after Saudi Arabia made clear it was going to let oil prices keep tumbling, the strategy is showing signs of working.

U.S. drillers are idling rigs at a record pace, gutting investment plans and laying off thousands of workers.

Those steps highlight how the Saudi-led OPEC decision on Nov. 27 to maintain output levels and protect its market share is having the desired effect -- pushing prices down so far that they threaten to curb output in the U.S. and other non-OPEC countries. Saudi Arabia, the most powerful member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, will maintain that tack when the group next meets in June, according to some of the world's biggest banks.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-27/saudis-bold-gambit-paying-off-just-three-months-later-energy

REUTERS

FOREX-Dollar on track for eighth month of gains on US data, Fed outlook

LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The dollar index slipped on Friday, pegged back by month-end selling, but was still on track for its eighth straight month of gains on better data and comments from Federal Reserve officials that bolstered bets for a rate rise this year.

The index, which measures the dollar's performance against major currencies, was set to mark its longest streak of monthly gains since the greenback was floated as a fiat currency in 1971.

On the day however, the index was off 0.2 percent at 95.124, having hit a one-month high of 95.357 on Thursday. The index had rallied 1.1 percent on Thursday, bringing it close to the more than 11-year high of 95.481 struck on Jan. 23.

Data released on Thursday showed U.S. core consumer price index, which excludes food and energy costs, rose 0.2 percent in January, more than the 0.1 percent increase economists had expected.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/markets-forex-idUSL5N0W11OD20150227

REUTERS
Apple faces second suit from victorious patent firm

(Reuters) - Fresh off a $532.9 million jury win against Apple Inc, a Texas company is again suing the tech giant, this time over the same patents' use in devices introduced after the original case was underway.

Smartflash LLC aims to make Apple pay for using the patent licensing firm's technology without permission in devices not be included in the previous case, such as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and the iPad Air 2. The trial covered older Apple devices.

On Tuesday, a jury in federal court in Tyler, Texas found that Apple willfully violated three Smartflash patents with devices that use its iTunes software. The patents relate to accessing and storing downloaded songs, videos and games.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-ip-apple-lawsuit-idUSKBN0LU27X20150227

European stocks are little changed in early trading on Markets remain cautious about the Greek debt deal and take a breather after the recent rally. The IMF and the ECB warned that the reform plans are not detailed enough and Athens will have to take further steps to ensure further bailout releases.

French Consumer Spending declined -0.9% in January, more than the expected -0.3%. Year on year Consumer Spending rose +0.6% compared to +0.5%. Data on German CPI due at 13:00 GMT will be in the focus.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.01% quoted at 6,949.14 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading +0.05 at 11,332.95 points. France's CAC 40 gained +0.12%, currently trading at 4,916.47 points.

U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday on mixed U.S. economic data and falling oil prices. U.S. consumer price inflation fell 0.7% in January, missing expectations for a 0.6% decrease, after a 0.4% decline in December. U.S. durable goods orders rose 2.8% in January, exceeding expectations for a 1.7% increase, after a 3.7% decline in December. The number of initial jobless claims in the week ending February 21 in the U.S. climbed by 31,000 to 313,000 from 282,000 in the previous week, missing expectations for a rise by 3,000. The S&P 500 closed -0.15% with a final quote of 2,110.74 points. The DOW JONES index declined by -0.06% closing at 18,214.42 points.

Chinese stocks were mixed. Yesterday markets rose on speculations on further stimulus measures taken by the PBoC. Premier Li stated that the economy needs more active fiscal policy. In a report the central bank said additional monetary easing is needed. Now all eyes are on the upcoming National People's Congress meeting next week. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading -0.32% at 24,823.29 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,310.72 points +0.37%.

The Nikkei continues extending its 15-year high. The Nikkei closed +0.06% with a final quote of 18,797.94 points, the highest closing since April 2000. Markets were supported by upbeat Industrial Production.

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

Nikkei 225 18,785.79т+200.59 +1.08%

Hang Seng 24,902.06 +123.78 +0.50%

Shanghai Composite 3,298.36 +69.52 +2.15%

FTSE 100 6,949.73 +14.35 +0.21%

CAC 40 4,910.62 +28.40 +0.58%

Xetra DAX 11,327.19 +116.92 +1.04%

S&P 500 2,110.74 -3.12 -0.15%

NASDAQ Composite 4,987.89 +20.75 +0.42%

Dow Jones 18,214.42 -10.15 -0.06%