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

Hang Seng 24,026.46 +106.51 +0.45%

Shanghai Composite 3,231.06 -54.35 -1.65%

FTSE 100 6,501.42 +0.28 0.00%

CAC 40 4,228.24 +49.17 +1.18%

Xetra DAX 9,781.9 +133.40 +1.38%

S&P 500 2,028.26 -16.55 -0.81%

NASDAQ Composite 4,664.71 -39.36 -0.84%

Dow Jones 17,640.84 -96.53 -0.54%

Stock indices closed higher as drug makers shares climbs.

There were released no major economic reports in the Eurozone.

Statistical offices in France and Italy and Germany's Ifo Institute released its growth forecast on Monday. The gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 0.3% in first and second quarter of 2015, driven by domestic.

Inflation in the Eurozone is expected to be near zero in the first quarter 2015 and +0.2% in the second 2015.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its leading indicators on Monday. The composite leading indicator increased to 100.5 in November from 100.4 in October.

The leading indicators signalled stable growth momentum for the United States, Canada and China, while it showed a slowdown in Germany, Italy, Russia and the U.K.

Lower level of momentum is expected in France, Brazil and in the whole Eurozone.

The Slovak news agency TASR quoted the European Central Bank's (ECB) governing council member Jozef Makuch on Monday. Makuch said the ECB is ready to implement quantitative easing if needed.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,501.42 +0.28 0.00%

DAX 9,781.9 +133.40 +1.38%

CAC 40 4,228.24 +49.17 +1.18%

U.S. stock-index futures rose as corporate deals overshadowed a further drop in crude and investors awaited earnings reports.

Global markets:

Hang Seng 24,026.46 +106.51 +0.45%

Shanghai Composite 3,231.06 -54.35 -1.65%

FTSE 6,498.28 -2.86 -0.04%

CAC 4,213.96 +34.89 +0.83%

DAX 9,733.86 +85.36 +0.88%

Crude oil $46.55 (-3.74%)

Gold $1222.80 (+0.55%)

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Goldman Sachs (GS) downgraded to Mkt Perform from Mkt Outperform at JMP Securities

Google (GOOG) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities

Other:

European indices added in today's trading supported by airlines and the automotive industry fuelled by oil trading at 5 ½-year lows. Brent dropped below USD49, its lowest since April 2009. Investors are looking forward to the European Central Bank policy meeting taking place on January 22^nd and the Greek elections on January 25^th that will keep markets volatile in the near future. As the Eurozone faces the risk of deflation the possibility of the ECB to buy government bonds is growing. Eurozone's consumer prices dropped an annual 0.2% in December declining for the first time in five years.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index added +0.34% quoted at 6,523.00 losing some of its early gains. France's CAC 40 gained +1.50% trading at 4,241.93. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading +1.48% at 9,791.00 points further extending the good start.

European indices edge higher in early trading amid speculations on full-scale quantitative easing being decided at the next ECB-meeting taking place on January 22^nd. As the Eurozone faces the risk of deflation the possibility of the ECB to buy government bonds is growing. Eurozone's consumer prices dropped an annual 0.2% in December declining for the first time in five years.

Today markets were supported by solid gains in the health-care and financial sector. Energy stocks were under pressure again as the slump in oil prices continued. Markets look ahead to FOMC Member Dennis Lockhart's speech scheduled for 17:40 GMT today.

After a mixed set on U.S. job data U.S. indices point to a higher open.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.61% quoted at 6,540.58 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +1.14% trading at 9,758.62. France's CAC 40 rose by +1.20%, currently trading at 4,229.04 points.

U.S. markets closed lower on Friday after a mixed set of U.S. job data with the unemployment rate declining to 5.6% in December, and hourly earnings decreasing to $24.57. Falling oil prices also weighed on the indices. The DOW JONES index lost -0.95%, 170 points, closing at 17,737.37. The S&P 500 declined by -0.84% with a final quote of 2,044.81 ending a two-day rally.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng added +0.46% to 24,029.33 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,231.06 points, a loss of -1.65% as investors sell shares to fund upcoming new listings and take profit after the recent rally.

Japan's Nikkei is closed today due to a bank holiday in Japan. On Friday the index added +0.18% closing at 17,197.73 points rising for a third day.