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

Nikkei 225 16,937.32 +74.85 +0.44%

Hang Seng 23,695.62 -150.04 -0.63%

Shanghai Composite 2,420.4 -10.28 -0.42%

FTSE 100 6,539.14 +85.17 +1.32%

CAC 40 4,208.42 +78.23 +1.89%

Xetra DAX 9,315.48 +149.01 +1.63%

S&P 500 2,023.57 +11.47 +0.57%

NASDAQ Composite 4,620.72 -2.91 -0.06%

Dow Jones 17,484.53 +100.69 +0.58%

Stock indices closed lower higher on results of the U.S. midterm elections. Democrats lost control of the U.S. Senate. The Republican Party also extended their majority in the House of Representatives, their largest majority in the House of Representatives since the 1940s.

Retail sales in the Eurozone fell 1.3% in September, missing expectations for a 0.6% decrease, after a 0.9% gain in August. August's figure was revised down from a 1.2% rise.

Eurozone's final services purchasing managers' index decreased to 52.3 in October from 52.4 in September. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 52.4.

Germany's final services purchasing managers' index fell to 54.4 in October from 54.8 in September. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 54.8.

France's final services purchasing managers' index rose to 48.3 in October from 48.1 in September. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 48.1.

Investors are awaiting the European Central Bank's (ECB) interest decision and press conference tomorrow. They will analyse the ECB' President Mario Draghi's speech for signs for the further stimulus measures by the ECB to boost the economy in the Eurozone.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,539.14 +85.17 +1.32%

DAX 9,315.48 +149.01 +1.63%

CAC 40 4,208.42 +78.23 +1.89%

U.S. equity-index futures rose after Republicans won their first Senate majority in eight years, taking control of both chambers of Congress, and data showed companies added more workers than estimated in October.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,937.32 +74.85 +0.44%

Hang Seng 23,695.62 -150.04 -0.63%

Shanghai Composite 2,420.4 -10.28 -0.42%

FTSE 6,526.45 +72.48 +1.12%

CAC 4,194.86 +64.67 +1.57%

DAX 9,314.48 +148.01 +1.61%

Crude oil $77.48 (+0.39%)

Gold $1145.10 (-1.94%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Intel (INTC) downgraded to Underperform from Mkt Perform at Bernstein

Other:

European stock indices continued to rise after their good start although Eurozone Retail Sales were worse than expected (MoM -1.3% / forecast -0.6%) but good company results helped the markets continue its way north. UK's FTSE 100 index was up 0.89% to 6,511.11 points. Germany's DAX 30 climbed 1.23% to 9,279.19 points, while France's CAC 40 gained 1.24% to 4,181.33.

But the bullish markets could come to an end and we might see some downside if the European Central Bank fails on Thursday to deliver a plan for a new economic stimulus.

"The market is rising today, but without real conviction. There's no real trend on the market at the moment, and flows from investors remain thin," said Jean-Louis Cussac, head of Paris-based firm Perceval Finance.

About halfway into Europe's earnings season, 64 percent of companies have managed to meet or beat profit forecasts, and 59 percent met or beat revenue forecasts, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine data.

European stock indices rose significantly at the start. UK's FTSE 100 index was up 0.60% to 6492.53 points. Germany's DAX 30 climbed 1.06% to 9,263.59 points, while France's CAC 40 gained 0.85% to 4,165.44.

European indices rose today and compensated previous trading day's losses mostly due to solid earnings reports and the result of the U.S. mid-term elections.

About halfway into Europe's earnings season, 64 percent of companies have managed to meet or beat profit forecasts, and 59 percent met or beat revenue forecasts, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine data.

European stocks are trading stronger recouping some of yesterday's losses after the ECB did not announce immediate monetary policy action. Inflation forecast for the Eurozone was lowered to 0.5% in 2014 from the previous estimate of 0.6%, to 0.7% in 2015 from the previous estimate 1.1% and to 1.3% in 2016 from the previous estimate 1.4%.

The ECB also cut its economic growth forecast for the Eurozone through 2016. The growth was lowered to 0.8% 2014 the previous estimate of 0.9%, to 1.0% in 2015 from the previous estimate of 1.6% and to 1.5% in 2016 from the previous estimate of 1.9%. The ECB warned that new inflation forecasts did not take into account the recent decline in oil prices.

German factory orders adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation beat expectations, a sign of recovery of the Eurozone's largest economy. Factory orders rose +2.5% in October, a plus of +1.4% compared with September. Analyst's forecasted an increase of +0.6%. Markets are now awaiting U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate being published at 13:30 GMT, average earnings and factory orders and Eurozone's GDP earlier in the session at 10:00 GMT.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +1.03% quoted at 6,731.94 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +1.25% at 9,974.50, just below the important 10,000 points level. France's CAC 40 gained +1.21%, currently trading at 4,376.98 points.

European stocks are trading stronger recouping some of yesterday's losses after the ECB did not announce immediate monetary policy action. Inflation forecast for the Eurozone was lowered to 0.5% in 2014 from the previous estimate of 0.6%, to 0.7% in 2015 from the previous estimate 1.1% and to 1.3% in 2016 from the previous estimate 1.4%.

The ECB also cut its economic growth forecast for the Eurozone through 2016. The growth was lowered to 0.8% 2014 the previous estimate of 0.9%, to 1.0% in 2015 from the previous estimate of 1.6% and to 1.5% in 2016 from the previous estimate of 1.9%. The ECB warned that new inflation forecasts did not take into account the recent decline in oil prices.

German factory orders adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation beat expectations, a sign of recovery of the Eurozone's largest economy. Factory orders rose +2.5% in October, a plus of +1.4% compared with September. Analyst's forecasted an increase of +0.6%. Markets are now awaiting U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate being published at 13:30 GMT, average earnings and factory orders and Eurozone's GDP earlier in the session at 10:00 GMT.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +1.03% quoted at 6,731.94 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +1.25% at 9,974.50, just below the important 10,000 points level. France's CAC 40 gained +1.21%, currently trading at 4,376.98 points.