Stock indices traded mostly lower after the weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales and initial jobless claims. The U.S. retail sales increased 0.3% in May, missing expectations for a 0.5% gain, after a 0.5% rise in April. April’s figure was revised up to a 0.5% gain from an increase of 0.1%.

The U.S. core retail sales excluding automobile sales were up 0.1% in May, missing expectations for a 0.4% increase, after a 0.4% rise in April. April’s figure was revised up to 0.4% from 0%.

The U.S. Labor Department released the number of initial jobless claims. The initial jobless claims in the week ending June 7 rose by 4,000 to 317,000. Analysts had forecasted the decline by 6,000 to 306,000.

Earlier in the trading session, the industrial production in the Eurozone was released. The industrial production in the Eurozone increased 0.8% in April, beating expectations for a 0.5% gain, after a 0.3% decline in March.

On a year-over-year basis, Eurozone’s industrial production rose 1.4% in April, exceeding expectations for a 0.9% increase, after a 0.1% fall in March.

Indexes on the close:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                             6,843.11                               +4.29                        +0.06%

DAX                                     9,938.70                               -11.11                        -0.11%

CAC 40                                4,554.40                                 -0.71                        -0.02%

U.S. stock-index futures fell slightly after data showed a rise in jobless claims and a smaller-than-estimated gain in retail sales.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,973.53 -95.95 -0.64%

Hang Seng 23,175.02 -82.27 -0.35%

Shanghai Composite 2,051.71 -3.24 -0.16%

FTSE 6,845 +6.13 +0.09%

CAC 4,557.8 +2.69 +0.06%

DAX 9,945.76 -4.05 -0.04%

Crude oil $106.33 (+1.85%)

Gold $1264.90 (+0.30%)

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

Upgrades:

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman

Downgrades:

Other:

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) target raised to $35 from $30 at Mizuho

Stock indices traded slightly higher due to better-than-expected industrial production in the Eurozone. The industrial production in the Eurozone increased 0.8% in April, beating expectations for a 0.5% gain, after a 0.3% decline in March.

On a year-over-year basis, Eurozone’s industrial production rose 1.4% in April, exceeding expectations for a 0.9% increase, after a 0.1% fall in March.

Current figures:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                             6,843.43                               +4.56                        +0.07%

DAX                                      9,952.44                               +2.63                       +0.03%

CAC 40                                4,560.19                                +5.08                       +0.11%

Asian stock declined due to a yesterday’s disappointing trading session on Wall Street. The World Bank’s cut of the economic global forecast weighed on U.S. markets. The World Bank lowered its global growth forecast to 2.8% from an earlier estimate of 3.2% due to a weaker outlook for the U.S., Russia and China.

Japan’s core machinery orders dropped 9.1% in April, after a 19.1% gain in March. Analysts had forecasted a 10.8% decline.

On a yearly basis, the core machinery orders in Japan climbed 17.6% in April, after a 16.1% rise in March.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225                         14,973.53                   -95.95             -0.64%

Hang Seng                        23,175.02                   -82.27             -0.35%

Shanghai Composite           2,051.71                     -3.24              -0.16%

Nikkei 15,069.48 +74.68 +0.50%

Hang Seng 23,257.29 -58.45 -0.25%

Shanghai Composite 2,054.95 +2.42 +0.12%

S&P 1,943.89 -6.90 -0.35%

NASDAQ 4,331.93 -6.07 -0.14%

Dow 16,843.88 -102.04 -0.60%

FTSE 1,391.59 -6.59 -0.47%

CAC 4,555.11 -39.89 -0.87%

DAX 9,949.81 -78.99 -0.79%