Most stock indices closed higher on speculation the European Central Bank (ECB) will add further stimulus measures. The ECB will release its interest decision tomorrow.

Eurozone' final services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 51.1 in November from a preliminary reading of 51.3. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 51.3.

Germany's final services PMI remained unchanged at 51.1 in November, in line with expectations.

France's final services PMI fell to 47.9 in November from a preliminary reading of 48.3. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 48.3.

Retail sales in the Eurozone rose 0.4% in October, missing expectations for a 0.6% increase, after a 1.2% drop in September. September's figure was revised up from a 1.3% decline.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone surged 1.4% in October, exceeding expectations for a 0.9% gain, after a 0.5% increase in September. September's figure was revised down from a 0.6% rise.

The U.K. Chancellor George Osborne said in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday that the gross domestic product (GDP) forecast was raised to 3% in 2014 from 2.7% in March. The U.K. economy is expected to grow at 2.4% in 2015, so Osborne.

Unemployment in the U.K. is expected to fall to 5.4% in 2015, according Autumn Statement.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,716.63 -25.47 -0.38%

DAX 9,971.79 +37.71 +0.38%

CAC 40 4,391.86 +3.56 +0.08%

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed as investors weighed data on private payrolls before the government's labor report on Friday.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,720.43 +57.21 +0.32%

Hang Seng 23,428.62 -225.68 -0.95%

Shanghai Composite 2,779.74 +16.19 +0.59%

FTSE 6,723.06 -19.04 -0.28%

CAC 4,388.63 +0.33 +0.01%

DAX 9,960.51 +26.43 +0.27%

Crude oil $67.44 (+0.84%)

Gold $1203.20 (+0.32%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

UnitedHealth (UNH) target raised to $108 from $94 at Oppenheimer and to $110 from $95 at Stifel

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $150 from $135 at JMP Securities

European indices are trading mixed today. The FTSE 100 index lost -0.11% quoted at 6,734.67 points after upbeat data on the Purchasing Manager Index on Services. The index rose from 56.2 last month to 58.6 in November beating forecasts of 56.6. Markets await the Autumn Forecast Statement due at 12:30 GMT and tomorrow's ECB policy meeting. France's CAC 40 is slightly negative at -0.08% trading at 4,384.62 and Germany's DAX 30 gained +0.16% trading at 9,950.22 points.

France's Services PMI published today declined to 47.9, 0.4 below forecasts whereas Eurozone's Services PMI declined to 51.1, 0.2 weaker than predicted by analysts. Eurozone's Retail Sales for October increased by 0.4%, 0.2% below forecasts whereas Retail Sales on a yearly basis increased 1.4%. Analysts forecasts predicted a growth of 0.9%.

European stocks are trading higher early in today's session amid bets that the next ECB policy meeting, scheduled for the 4^th of December in Frankfurt, might bring up new stimulus measures and move closer to a full-scale quantitative easing. European stocks remained supported after Friday's data on inflation which declined to a five year low at 0.3% in November. France's Services PMI declined to 47.9, 0.4 below forecasts whereas Eurozone's Services PMI declined to 51.1, 0.2 weaker than predicted by analysts.

Markets await data on the U.K Purchasing Manager Index, Eurozone Retail Sales, U.K. Autumn Forecast Statement and later in the session U.S. data on the ADP Employment Report, Nonfarm Productivity, the ISM Non-Manufacturing Index and speeches of FOMC members

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading negative losing -0.10% quoted at 6,735.63 points, Germany's DAX 30 is trading +0.11% at 9,944.61. France's CAC 40 lost -0.01%, currently trading at 4,387.45 points.

U.S. markets closed higher posting solid gains. The DOW JONES added +0.58% closing at 17,879.55 points and the S&P 500 rose +0.64 with a final quote of 2,066.55 points supported by strong gains in the energy sector an upbeat U.S. construction gauge and better-than expected car sales.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading -0.83% at 23,457.32 erasing earlier gains of +1%. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 2,779.74 points, a gain of +0.59%. China's Non-Manufacturing PMI for November rose to 53.9 from a previous reading of 53.8 and the HSBC Services PMI added 0.1 to 53.0.

Japan's Nikkei rose for a fourth consecutive day, gaining +0.32% closing at 17,720.43 - a seven-year high, as the yen continued to weaken supporting automotive and electronics stocks.