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

Nikkei 225 17,257.4 -155.18 -0.89%

Hang Seng 23,312.54 -211.98 -0.90%

Shanghai Composite 2,926.66 -13.34 -0.45%

FTSE 100 6,461.7 -38.34 -0.59%

CAC 40 4,225.86 -2.05 -0.05%

Xetra DAX 9,862.53 +62.80 +0.64%

S&P 500 2,035.33 +9.19 +0.45%

NASDAQ Composite 4,708.16 +24.14 +0.52%

Dow Jones 17,596.34+63.19 +0.36%

Stock indices closed little changed on better-than-expected U.S. retail sales. The U.S. retail sales climbed 0.7% in November, exceeding expectations for a 0.3% increase, after a 0.5% gain in October. October's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

Retail sales excluding automobiles increased 0.5% in November, beating expectations for a 0.1% gain, after a 0.4% gain in October. October's figure was revised up from a 0.3% increase.

These figures showed that the U.S. economy is strengthening.

306 banks borrowed 129.84 billion euros in the auction (European Central Bank's targeted longer-term refinancing operation (TLTRO)).

Germany's final consumer price index was flat in November.

On a yearly basis, German final consumer price index rose 0.6% in October, higher than the previous reading of 0.5% gain.

France's consumer price inflation declined 0.2% in November, missing expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a flat reading in October.

On a yearly basis, French consumer price index fell to 0.4% in November from 0.5% in October. Analysts had expected the consumer inflation to remain at 0.5%.

Investors speculate that the European Central Bank will consider quantitative easing at its meeting in January.

The Greek ASE Index fell 7.4%. The Greek ASE Index dropped 13% on Tuesday as the Greek government announced that it would hold presidential elections on December 17. Analysts had not expected this decision. That was the biggest drop since 1987.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,461.7 -38.34 -0.59%

DAX 9,862.53 +62.80 +0.64%

CAC 40 4,225.86 -2.05 -0.05%

U.S. stock futures advanced as retail sales rose in November by the most in eight months and jobless claims declined.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,257.4 -155.18 -0.89%

Hang Seng 23,312.54 -211.98 -0.90%

Shanghai Composite 2,926.66 -13.34 -0.45%

FTSE 6,457.79 -42.25 -0.65%

CAC 4,215.82 -12.09 -0.29%

DAX 9,833.58 +33.85 +0.35%

Crude oil $60.25 (-1.25%)

Gold $1220.30 (-0.75%)

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

Upgrades:

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) upgraded to Outperform from Underperform at Credit Agricole

Downgrades:

Travelers (TRV) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS

Other:

Procter & Gamble (PG) initiated with a Mkt Perform at Raymond James

European indices are trading lower after the ECB's latest round of TLTRO loans and ahead of key U.S. data on retail sales and initial jobless claims due 13:30 GMT. Banks borrowed 129.8 billion euros of four-year loans from the ECB, little more than half of the maximum offered by the central bank, fuelling expectations for further monetary stimulus and the ECB buying sovereign bonds next year. The FTSE 100 index lost -0.62% quoted at 6,460.06 points. France's CAC 40 declined -0.18% trading at 4,220.13 and Germany's DAX 30, being the only index trading with a plus, rose +0.17 to 9,815.98 points.

European indices recover after the political turmoil in Greece and the slump in energy and commodity prices. Markets were under pressure yesterday after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced bringing forward a parliamentary vote on a new head of state on December 17th. Markets were further weighed down by China's decision to set new restrictions on collateral for short-term loans. The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.33% quoted at 6,521.44 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +0.52% trading at 9,850.86 after German CPI on a monthly basis was in line with expectations and +0.6% on a yearly basis beating expectations by +0.1%. France's CAC 40 added +0.49%, currently trading at 4,248.44 points. France's CPI disappointed with a reading of -0.2%. Analysts expected a rise of +0.2%.

Markets await the ECB's Monthly report published at 09:00 GMT and Eurozone's Targeted LTRO at 10:15 GMT.

U.S. markets closed significantly lower on Wednesday. The DOW JONES lost -1.51% closing at 17,533.15 points, the S&P 500 slumped -1.64%, the biggest decline in 7 weeks, with a final quote of 2,026.14 points. Markets were weighed down by energy stocks as oil prices continued to decline to a five-year low after the OPEC cut its forecast on demand for Crude in 2015.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading -0.73% at 23,352.84. China's volatile Shanghai Composite closed at 2,926.66 points, a decline of -0.45, shedding earlier gains.

Japan's Nikkei lost -0.89% closing at 17,257.4 after reaching 7 ½ year highs at the start of the week.