European stocks were little changed, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index trading near its highest level in 4 1/2 years, as a report showed that U.K. manufacturing output unexpectedly contracted.

The Stoxx 600 added less than 0.1 percent to 295.37 at 4:30 p.m. in London after climbing as much as 0.3 percent and dropping as much as 0.2 percent.

National benchmark indexes advanced in 10 of the 18 western-European markets.

FTSE 100 6,510.62 +6.99 +0.11% CAC 40 3,839.97 +3.70 +0.10% DAX 7,966.12 -18.17 -0.23%

U.K. manufacturing output slipped 1.5 percent in January after increasing a revised 1.5 percent in December, according to a statement from the Office for National Statistics. Economists had predicted the measure would be unchanged. Total industrial production in the European Union’s third-largest economy declined 1.2 percent in January after gaining 1.1 percent in the previous month, separate figures showed. Economists had called for a 0.1 percent increase.

Antofagasta gained 2.9 percent to 1,127 pence after the copper producer controlled by Chile’s Luksic family proposed a dividend of 98.5 cents a share, compared with 44 cents a year earlier. The average analyst estimate had called for a dividend of 58 cents.

SBM Offshore NV surged 21 percent to 12.96 euros, its biggest rally since at least October 1989, after agreeing to pay $470 million to settle a dispute with Talisman Energy Inc. The world’s biggest supplier of floating oil rigs said it will take a provision of $270 million in addition to the $200 million that it set aside in December for its Yme platform in the North Sea.

St. James’s Place lost 3.1 percent to 520 pence. Lloyds sold 102 million shares in the company, leaving the bank with a 37 percent stake. Britain’s biggest mortgage lender said it will make a gain of 400 million pounds ($595 million) from the sale and the revaluation of its remaining holding.

Pirelli retreated 4.2 percent to 8.55 euros after Europe’s third-largest tiremaker forecast earnings before interest and taxes of 810 million euros ($1.1 billion) to 850 million euros in 2013. That compared with the average analyst estimate of 875 million euros.

U.S. stock-index futures slightly fell, indicating that indexes may retreat from reached levels.

Global Stocks:

Downgrades:
Cisco Systems (CSCO) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Standpoint Research

European stocks were little changed after a report showed manufacturing output unexpectedly contracted in the U.K. in January. U.S. index futures and Asian shares declined.

U.K. manufacturing output slipped 1.5 percent in January after increasing a revised 1.5 percent in December, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. Economists had predicted the measure would be unchanged. Total industrial production in the European Union’s third-largest economy declined 1.2 percent in January after gaining 1.1 percent in the previous month, separate figures showed. Economists had called for a 0.1 percent increase.

European Union leaders will meet at a summit in Brussels on March 14-15 to discuss the terms of a bailout for Cyprus. These include the nation’s debt sustainability and whether to impose losses on depositors.

St. James’s Place lost 1.6 percent to 528 pence after Lloyds sold 102 million shares in the company, leaving the bank with a 37 percent stake. Britain’s biggest mortgage lender said it will make a gain of 400 million pounds ($593 million) from the sale. Lloyds climbed 2.2 percent to 51.1 pence.

Pirelli retreated 2.4 percent to 8.71 euros after Europe’s third-largest tiremaker forecast earnings before interest and taxes of 810 million euros ($1.1 billion) to 850 million euros. That compared with the average analyst estimate of 875 million euros in a survey.

Antofagasta jumped 4.7 percent to 1,146 pence after the copper producer controlled by Chile’s Luksic family proposed a dividend of 98.5 cents a share, from 44 cents a year earlier. The average analyst estimate had called for a dividend of 58 cents.

FTSE 100 6,502.2 -1.43 -0.02%

CAC 40 3,837.3 +1.03 +0.03%

DAX 7,976.8 -7.49 -0.09%

Asian stocks fell from a 19-month high as Chinese shares extended their decline. Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. surged after Japan confirmed it has extracted frozen natural gas from under the seabed.

Nikkei 225 12,314.81 -34.24 -0.28%

Hang Seng 22,890.6 -200.22 -0.87%

S&P/ASX 200 5,117.87 -29.04 -0.56%

Shanghai Composite 2,286.6 -23.99 -1.04%

China Cosco Holdings Co., the nation’s biggest shipping company, dropped 5.3 percent after Citigroup Inc. said the sale of its logistics unit means the loss of a stable, growing business.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd., Australia’s second-biggest independent coal producer, sank 5.5 percent on government plans for stricter coal mining approvals.

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index heading for the highest close since August 2011, after U.S. jobs data beat estimates and Japanese exporters gained on a weaker yen.

Nikkei 225 12,349.05 +65.43 +0.53%

Hang Seng 23,090.82 -1.13 0.00%

S&P/ASX 200 5,146.9 +23.46 +0.46%

Shanghai Composite 2,310.59 -8.02 -0.35%

Techtronic Industries Co., a maker of power tools that gets most of its sales in North America, gained 1.4 percent in Hong Kong.

Resona Holdings Inc. and Shinsei Bank Ltd. led gains among Japanese lenders on speculation they may follow Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. with plans to repay public funds.

Agile Property Holdings Ltd., a Chinese developer, slid 2.2 percent in Hong Kong after Chinese economic reports missed estimates.

European stocks fell from a 4 1/2- year high as Fitch Ratings downgraded Italy and China’s retail sales and industrial output missed forecasts.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.1 percent to 295.26 at 4:33 p.m. in London. The gauge has still surged 5.6 percent this year as U.S. lawmakers agreed on a compromise budget and optimism grew that central banks around the world will continue stimulus measures to support the economic recovery.

National benchmark indexes fell in 11 of the 18 western European markets.

FTSE 100 6,503.63 +20.05 +0.31% CAC 40 3,836.27 -3.88 -0.10% DAX 7,984.29 -2.18 -0.03%

Fitch cut Italy’s credit rating by one level after the close of equity markets on March 8, as last month’s election produced political paralysis that threatens the country’s ability to respond to a recession and the European debt crisis. The rating company lowered Italy’s government bond rating to BBB+ from A- with a negative outlook. That’s three levels above junk and one higher than Spain.

Storebrand (STB) slid 1.78 kroner to 25.23 kroner as stricter pension rules will require the insurer to set aside as much as 11.5 billion kroner ($2 billion). Life insurance providers in Norway must boost premiums and reserves to meet an increase in life expectancy, the Financial Supervisory Authority said on March 8.

OMV, central Europe’s biggest oil company, declined 1.7 percent to 34.50 euros in Vienna as SocGen downgraded the stock to hold from buy.

Sage Group Plc slipped 2.5 percent to 340.8 pence as Bank of America Corp. downgraded the shares to underperform, the equivalent of a sell rating, from neutral and added the software maker to its least preferred technology stocks.

Atlantia SpA (ATL) fell 3.7 percent to 12.27 euros and Gemina SpA tumbled 6.4 percent to 1.29 euros. Italy’s largest toll-highway operator will pay one share for every nine shares of Gemina, which runs Rome’s airports, in a takeover deal that involves no cash, according to a statement released after the close of trading on March 8.

Ladbrokes surged 6.7 percent to 240.2 pence, the biggest jump since April 2011, after the U.K. operator of more than 2,000 betting shops said Playtech will help develop and expand its digital business. Playtech rose 3.5 percent to 571 pence.

Nordex SE soared 15 percent to 4.44 euros, it’s biggest rally in almost two years. The German wind-turbine maker reported earnings before interest and taxes of 14 million euros ($18.2 million), compared with the 10.5 million-euro average analyst estimate.

Despite the negative start, major U.S. stock indexes finished trading in positive territory.

Indexes started the session in the red, but later managed to retreat from session lows, and moved into the "green" zone. Above all index Dow, which now again renewed its historical maximum.

Note that today the market is dominated by moderate positive sentiment. Investors were encouraged by better-than-expected data on the U.S. labor market and the parallel signals that the Fed will continue to hold in excess of loose monetary policy within a certain period of time. However, the indices remain vulnerable to concerns about U.S. fiscal policy, but they are restrained.

Most components of DOW index closed in plus (20 of 30). Shares of Boeing (BA, +1.90%) advanced more than other components. Shares of Microsoft Corporation (MSFT, -0.79%) fell more than other components

All sectors of the S&P closed in plus. Most growts showed sector of conglomerates (+0.5%).

Dow +48.92 14,445.99 +0.34%

Nasdaq +8.5 3,252.87 +0.26%