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

Nikkei 225 16,792.48 -144.84 -0.86 %

Hang Seng 23,649.31 -46.31 -0.20 %

Shanghai Composite 2,425.81 +6.56 +0.27 %

FTSE 100 6,551.15 +12.01 +0.18 %

CAC 40 4,227.68 +19.26 +0.46 %

Xetra DAX 9,377.41 +61.93 +0.66 %

S&P 500 2,031.21 +7.64 +0.38 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,638.47 +17.75 +0.38 %

Dow Jones 17,554.47 +69.94 +0.40 %

Stock indices closed higher on comments by the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. He said at a press conference today that the central will add further unconventional measures stimulus measures, if needed. Draghi reiterated that the ECB is willing to expand its balance sheet towards the levels of early 2012.

Draghi noted that unemployment and geopolitical situation weighed on the Eurozone's economic recovery. He noted that growth momentum in the Eurozone slowed since the summer.

The ECB released its interest decision today. The central bank kept its interest rate unchanged at 0.05%.

Germany's adjusted factory orders rose 0.2% in September, missing expectations for a 2.2% increase, after a 4.2% drop in August. August's figure was revised up from a 5.7% fall.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,551.15 +12.01 +0.18%

DAX 9,377.41 +61.93 +0.66%

CAC 40 4,227.68 +19.26 +0.46%

U.S. stock futures rose as Mario Draghi said European Central Bank officials are unanimous on using more stimulus if needed.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,792.48 -144.84 -0.86%

Hang Seng 23,649.31 -46.31 -0.20%

Shanghai Composite 2,425.81 +6.56 +0.27%

FTSE 6,568.15 +29.01 +0.44%

CAC 4,260.18 +51.76 +1.23%

DAX 9,436.91 +121.43 +1.30%

Crude oil $77.84 (-1.04%)

Gold $1143.20 (-0.25%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

Tesla Motors (TSLA) reiterated at Outperform at Northland Capital, targe raised from $253 to $298

European stock indices are trading close to their opening as investors are awaiting the outcome of the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting and the ECB Interest Rate Decision that is going to be published in Frankfurt at 12:45 GMT. Investors are looking forward to Mario Draghi's speech at the ECB press conference that is scheduled for 13:30 to get further indications of future steps taken by the ECB.

UK's FTSE 100 index is down -0.14% to 6,530.24 points. Germany's DAX 30 climbed +0.14% to 9,328.10 points, while France's CAC 40 gained 0.03% to 4,209.72.

Neither German Factory Orders that were worse than estimated (MoM +0.8% forecast +2.2%) nor better U.K. Industrial Production (MoM +0.6% forecast +0.5%) could substantially move the markets.

European stock indices were trading lower at the start. UK's FTSE 100 index is down -0.37% to 6514.79 points, Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.21% and is trading at 9,295.71 points with lower-than-expected German factory orders, while France's CAC 40 lost -0.39% going south to 4,192.10 points.

Investors waiting for the results of the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting today but there is fear in the market that today meeting might not yield new market stimulus although it's the first meeting after Bank of Japan´s stimulus and will just keep interest rates at a record low.

Global stocks rose on Wednesday with the DOW Jones and S&P 500 advancing to new records as a consequence of U.S. mid-term election results and the as the Republican Party won control of the Senate and a stronger-than-expected report on the labour market, giving hope that Friday's payroll report will give further positive momentum to the market. Rising oil prices helped gains in the energy sector. The DOW Jones Index closed at 17,484.53 points, a plus of 0.58%, the S&P 500 at 2,023.57, a plus of +0.57%. Only the NASDAQ Composite index closed lower due to weak earnings reports with a loss of -0.06%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost -0.30% closing at 23,649.31, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.27% to 2,425.81 and Japan's Nikkei declined -0.86% to 16,792.48 after investors taking profits after recent gains.