Stock indices closed lower as bank shares declined.

Mixed services purchasing managers' index (PMI) from the Eurozone and the U.K. also weighed on markets. Eurozone' final services PMI fell to 51.6 in December from a preliminary reading of 51.9. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 51.6.

Germany's final services PMI remained rose to 52.1 in December from a preliminary reading of 51.4. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 51.4.

France's final services PMI increased to 50.6 in December from a preliminary reading of 49.8. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 49.8.

Investors speculate that the European Central Bank could decide on its policy meeting on January 22 to purchase government bonds.

Markets also remained under pressure due to political uncertainty in Greece. There is speculation that Greece could leave the Eurozone. Greeks will elect new parliament later this month. If a left-wing government wins Greek parliament elections, it may cancel austerity measures and may renegotiate Greece's debt.

The U.K. services PMI dropped to 55.8 in December from 58.6 in November, missing expectations for a rise to 58.9.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,366.51 -50.65 -0.79%

DAX 9,469.66 -3.50 -0.04%

CAC 40 4,083.5 -27.86 -0.68%

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed, as investors gauged whether signs of a strong economy will help lift equities.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,883.19 -525.52 -3.02%

Hang Seng 23,485.41 -235.91 -0.99%

Shanghai Composite 3,353.01 +2.49 +0.07%

FTSE 6,397.68 -19.48 -0.30%

CAC 4,116.37 +5.01 +0.12%

DAX 9,550.03 +76.87 +0.81%

Crude oil $49.15 (-1.78%)

Gold $1210.90 (+0.57%)

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

Upgrades:

FedEx (FDX) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS, tgt to $190 from $184

Downgrades:

DuPont (DD) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup

General Electric (GE) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank

Other:

McDonald's (MCD) target raised to $93 from $86, maintain Hold at Jefferies

Stock indices traded mixed after the mixed services purchasing managers' index (PMI) from the Eurozone and the U.K. Eurozone' final services PMI fell to 51.6 in December from a preliminary reading of 51.9. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 51.6.

Germany's final services PMI remained rose to 52.1 in December from a preliminary reading of 51.4. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 51.4.

France's final services PMI increased to 50.6 in December from a preliminary reading of 49.8. Analysts had expected the final index to remain at 49.8.

Political uncertainty in Greece still weighed on markets. There is speculation that Greece could leave the Eurozone. Greeks will elect new parliament later this month. If a left-wing government wins Greek parliament elections, it may cancel austerity measures and may renegotiate Greece's debt.

The U.K. services PMI dropped to 55.8 in December from 58.6 in November, missing expectations for a rise to 58.9.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,376.64 -40.52 -0.63%

DAX 9,521.88 +48.72 +0.51%

CAC 40 4,118.59 +7.23 +0.18%

Bloomberg

European Stocks Fall as Oil Drops Below $50; Yen Gains

European equities extended a global selloff as crude oil sank to the lowest level in almost six years. Asian stocks (MXAP) tumbled the most since March.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-05/asian-futures-drop-as-oil-sinks-stocks-euro-holds-losses.html

Reuters

Brent falls below $52 as oil hits new five-and-a-half year lows

(Reuters) - Oil prices sank to fresh 5-1/2-year lows on Tuesday, extending losses after a 5 percent plunge in the previous session as worries over a global supply glut intensified.

Brent crude fell by 3 percent to below $52 (34 pounds) a barrel as cuts to monthly oil selling prices for European buyers by top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia heightened worries about oversupply.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/01/06/uk-markets-oil-idUKKBN0KE06T20150106

RTTNews

Asian Stocks Join Global Selloff

Asian stocks fell for a second consecutive session on Tuesday following heavy losses in the U.S. and European markets overnight. Slumping oil prices and growing concerns that Greece might leave the European currency union left investors fleeing risky assets for the presumed safety of government bonds and the safe-haven Japanese yen.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/2437836/asian-stocks-join-global-selloff.aspx

Concerns Greece could leave the Eurozone and falling oil prices weighed on global stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.86% to 17,501.65 points on Monday, while the S&P 500 decreased 1.83% to 2,020.58 points. There were released no major economic reports in the U.S. yesterday.

Europe's stock indices declined for a third day.

UK's FTSE 100 index was down 1.07% to 6,348.33 points. Germany's DAX 30 declined 0.19% to 9,455.23 points, while France's CAC 40 fell 0.43% to 4,093.72.

Concerns over the economy in the Eurozone and political uncertainty in Greece. Yesterday's inflation data from the Eurozone showed that German preliminary consumer price index decreased to 0.2% in December from 0.6% in November, missing forecasts for a decline to 0.4%. That was the lowest level since October 2009.

Investors speculate that the European Central Bank could decide on its policy meeting on January 22 to purchase government bonds.

There is also speculation that Greece could leave the Eurozone. Greeks will elect new parliament later this month. If a left-wing government wins Greek parliament elections, it may cancel austerity measures and may renegotiate Greece's debt.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.99% to 23,485.41, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.07% to 3,353.01. The Chinese HSBC services purchasing managers' index increased to 53.4 in December from 53.0 in November.

Chinese stocks were supported by speculation Shenzhen will be added to a share trading link between Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

Japan's Nikkei dropped 3.02% to 16,883.19 due to falling prices and concerns over the Eurozone's economy. That was the biggest drop of Japanese stock index in nearly 10 months.

A stronger yen weighed on exporters' shares. The yen strengthened due to risk aversion.

Japan's monetary base increased 38.2% in December, beating expectations for a 34.3% rise, after a 36.7% gain in November.