Stock indices closed lower as Eurozone's inflation declines. The inflation fell to an annual rate of -0.6% in January from -0.2% in December. Analysts had expected a 0.5% drop.

Eurozone's unemployment rate fell to 11.4% in December from 11.5% in November. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 11.5%.

German adjusted retail sales climbed 0.2% in December, after a 0.9% gain in November. November's figure was revised down from a 1.0% increase.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,749.4 -61.20 -0.90%

DAX 10,694.32 -43.55 -0.41%

CAC 40 4,604.25 -27.18 -0.59%

Dow 17,357.76 -59.09 -0.34%

Nasdaq 4,690.37 +6.96 +0.15%

S&P 500 2,013.20 -8.05 -0.40%

10 Year Yield 1.67% -0.08 --

Gold $1,261.80 +7.20 +0.57%

Oil $44.52 -0.01 -0.02%

U.S. stocks futures were down sharply, after the government data showed that the economy grew at a slower pace than anticipated in the fourth quarter.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,674.39 +68.17 +0.39%

Hang Seng 24,507.05 -88.80 -0.36%

Shanghai Composite 3,211.67 -50.64 -1.55%

FTSE 6,777.6 -33.00 -0.48%

CAC 4,600.37 -31.06 -0.67%

DAX 10,673.72 -64.15 -0.60%

Crude oil $44.66 (+0.29%)

Gold $1264.00 (+0.75%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Visa (V) downgraded to Mkt Perform from Outperform at FBR Capital, target $260

Other:

Google (GOOG) target lowered from $725 to $650 at RBC Capital Mkts and from $671 to $632 at FBR Capital

Amazon.com (AMZN) target raised from $400 to $420 at Piper Jaffray

Chevron (CVX) earned $1.85 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $1.65. Revenue in the fourth quarter decreased 17.9% year-over-year to $46.09 billion, but exceeding analysts' estimate of $44.89 billion.

The company has announced that it will cut its capital expenditure by 13% in 2015.

Chevron (CVX) shares increased to $103.50 (+0.49%) prior to the opening bell.

Visa (V) earned $2.53 per share in the first fiscal quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $2.49. Revenue in the first fiscal quarter increased 7.2% year-over-year to $3.38 billion, exceeding analysts' estimate of $3.34 billion.

Visa (V) shares increased to $256.80 (+3.55%) prior to the opening bell.

Amazon.com (AMNZ) earned $0.45 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $0.16. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 14.6% year-over-year to $29.33 billion, missing analysts' estimate of $29.63 billion.

The company released its forecasts for the first quarter 2015. Revenue is expected to be $20.9-$22.9 billion (analysts' estimate: $22.96 billion).

Amazon.com (AMNZ) shares increased to $327.50 (+5.04%) prior to the opening bell.

Google (GOOG) earned $6.88 per share in the fourth quarter, missing analysts' estimate of $7.14. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 15.2% year-over-year to $18.10 billion, missing analysts' estimate of $18.47 billion.

Google (GOOG) shares increased to $517.00 (+1.24%) prior to the opening bell.

European indices reverse early gains ahead of U.S. data. Earlier today German Retail Sales for December rose less at a +0.2% pace compared to +1.0% in the previous month. Real unadjusted Retail Sales jumped +4.0%.

Consumer Spending in France rose by +1.5% in December compared to +0.4% in November.

Eurozone's Unemployment rate for December declined with a reading of 11.4%. Economists forecasted a reading of 11.5% in line with previous month's data.

The Eurozone's Harmonized Consumer Price Index for January extended its slide by -0.6%, matching the biggest decline in the history of the Eurozone, compared to a reading of -0.2% in the previous month. A reading below forecasts of -0.5%. The data shows the importance of the challenges the ECB is facing I order to avoid deflation and bring back the Eurozone to the targeted inflation rate of 2%.

Later in the day a set of U.S. data including the highly anticipated GDP for the fourth quarter, the Chicago Purchasing Manager's Index and the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment will be in the focus.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.35% quoted at 6,787.02 points. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.01% trading at 10,736.39, almost flat reversing early gains, being quoted below its all-time high at 10,810.57 hit on Tuesday. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 4,621.25 points, -0.22%.

European indices rise in early trading amid earnings reports still being supported by the ECB's stimulus program.

German Retail Sales for December rose less at a +0.2% pace compared to +1.0% in the previous month. Consumer Spending in France rose by +1.5% in December compared to +0.4% in November.

Markets await data on Eurozone's Unemployment Rate and Harmonized CPI due at 10:00 GMT. Later in the day a set of U.S. data including the GDP for the fourth quarter, the Chicago Purchasing Manager's Index and the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment will be in the focus.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.03% quoted at 6,812.95 points. Germany's DAX 30 rose by +0.21% trading at 10,760.56. France's CAC 40 added +0.20%, currently trading at 4,640.72 points.

U.S. markets closed higher on Thursday on mixed U.S. data, reversing early losses in the late afternoon on rising oil-prices and a rally in Apple and Boeing shares lend further support. Initial jobless claims in the week ending January 24 in the U.S. fell by 43,000 to 265,000 from 308,000 in the previous week. Pending home sales in the U.S. declined 3.7% in December, missing expectations for a 0.6% increase, after a 0.6% gain in November. November's figure was revised down from a 0.8% rise. That was the biggest monthly decrease since December 2013. Today market participants await a set of U.S. data including the GDP for the fourth quarter, the Chicago Purchasing Manager's Index and the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment.

The DOW JONES index added +1.31%, closing at 17,416.85 points. The S&P 500 rose by +0.95% with a final quote of 2,021.25 points

Chinese stock markets traded lower on Friday. Yesterday Chinese regulators launched inspections into brokerages that allow margin trading as concerns rise that markets are becoming over-leveraged. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading -0.48% at 24,478.94 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,211.67 points -1.55%.

Japan's Nikkei posted gains on Friday on strong corporate results that buoyed sentiment, closing +0.39% with a final quote of 17,674.39. SoftBank Corp, an index-heavyweight, limited gains. The bank is a major stakeholder in Alibaba that reported lower-than-expected revenues. For the week the index added +0.9%, ending the month with a gain of 1.3%. The Japanese Unemployment Rate declined for the month of December to 3.4%. The Tokyo Consumer Price Index rose to +2.3% with a previous reading of +2.1%. Household Spending decreased by -3.4%, analysts expected a decline by -2.5%. The National CPI was unchanged at +2.4%, ex fresh food CPI rose by 2.5%, less than the expected 2.6%. Industrial Production for December rose by +1.0% in December compared to -0.6% in November, not meeting forecasts of +1.3%. Housing starts shrank by -14.7% for a 10^th straight year-on-year decline.

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

TOPIX 1,413.58 -16.34 -1.14%

SHANGHAI COMP 3,263.73 -42.00 -1.27%

HANG SENG 24,574.87 -286.94 -1.15%

FTSE 100 6,810.6 -15.34 -0.22%

CAC 40 4,631.43 +20.49 +0.44%

Xetra DAX 10,737.87 +26.90 +0.25%

S&P 500 2,021.25 +19.09 +0.95%

NASDAQ Composite 4,683.41 +45.41 +0.98%

Dow Jones 17,416.85 +225.48 +1.31%