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

Nikkei 225 15,783.83 -107.12 -0.67%

Hang Seng 23,422.52 +107.48 +0.46%

S&P/ASX 200 5,284.2 -8.71 -0.16%

FTSE 100 6,495.58 -68.07 -1.04%

CAC 40 4,209.14 -77.38 -1.81%

Xetra DAX 9,086.21 -123.30 -1.34%

S&P 500 1,935.1 -29.72 -1.51%

NASDAQ Composite 4,385.2 -69.60 -1.56%

Dow Jones 16,719.39 -272.52 -1.60%

Stock indices closed lower due to the IMF's economic growth cut and disappointing German industrial production. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its forecast for global economic growth to 3.3% in 2014, down from a previous forecast of 3.4%. 2015 forecast was lowered to 3.8%, down from a previous forecast of 4.0%.

German industrial production declined 4.0% in August, missing expectations for a 1.4% decrease, after a 1.6% rise in July. That was the largest drop since 2009.

July's figure was revised down from a 1.9% gain.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,495.58 -68.07 -1.04 %

DAX 9,086.21 -123.30 -1.34 %

CAC 40 4,209.14 -77.38 -1.81 %

U.S. stock-index futures declined, investors await corporate earnings reports to assess the strength of the American economy.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,783.83 -107.12 -0.67%

Hang Seng 23,422.52 +107.48 +0.46%

FTSE 6,538.69 -24.96 -0.38%

CAC 4,242.03 -44.49 -1.04%

DAX 9,164.77 -44.74 -0.49%

Crude oil $89.96 (-0.42%)

Gold $1206.20 (-0.09%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Deere (DE) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Other:

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $120 from $115 at Susquehanna

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) target raised to $45 at Brean Capital

UnitedHealth (UNH) initiated with a Overweight at Piper Jaffray, target $121

Stock indices traded lower due to disappointing German industrial production. German industrial production declined 4.0% in August, missing expectations for a 1.4% decrease, after a 1.6% rise in July. That was the largest drop since 2009.

July's figure was revised down from a 1.9% gain.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 6,521.56 -42.09 -0.64%

DAX 9,133.33 -76.18 -0.83%

CAC 40 4,239.5 -47.02 -1.10%

Asian stock indices closed mixed.

Japanese stocks declined due to a stronger yen. The yen climbed after comments by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision. Abe expressed concern about a weaker yen.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its monetary policy unchanged.

The BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said at a press conference today that the BoJ will closely monitor the exchange rate. He added that the central bank will maintain its quantitative and qualitative monetary easing program until the inflation target of 2% is achieved. Kuroda noted the BoJ will adjust its quantitative and qualitative monetary easing program if necessary.

Japan's preliminary leading index declined to 104 in August from 105.4 in July, missing expectations for a decrease to 104.2. That was the lowest level since January 2013.

Japan's coincident index fell to 108.5 in August from 109.9 in July.

Hong Kong's stock index increased as Hong Kong officials and protest leaders agreed to talk.

Markets in Shanghai are closed until October 7 for a public holiday.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225 15,783.83 -107.12 -0.67%

Hang Seng 23,422.52 +107.48 +0.46%

Shanghai Composite closed