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

Nikkei 225 16,819.73 +64.41 +0.38%

Hang Seng 22,585.84 -84.66 -0.37%

Shanghai Composite 3,061.02 +39.50 +1.31%

FTSE 100 6,336.48 +4.65 +0.07%

CAC 40 4,111.91 +18.71 +0.46%

Xetra DAX 9,544.43 -19.46 -0.20%

S&P 500 2,012.89 +40.15 +2.04%

NASDAQ Composite 4,644.31 +96.48 +2.12%

Dow Jones 17,356.87 +288.00 +1.69%

Most stock indices closed slightly higher on higher energy and mining stocks.

Investors are awaiting a parliamentary vote for president. The Greek presidency candidate is Stavros Dimas. There are three possible votes in parliament. If the candidate isn't elected in three possible votes, the parliament will be dissolved.

The Fed's interest rate decision is also expected. Investors expect that the Fed will keep its low interest rate for a longer period. They are awaiting new signs for further monetary policy in the U.S.

Eurozone's consumer price index dropped 0.2% in November, in line with expectations, after a flat reading in October.

On a yearly basis, Eurozone's consumer price inflation remained unchanged at 0.3% in November, in line with expectations.

Eurozone's consumer price inflation excluding food, energy, alcohol and tobacco remained unchanged at an annual rate of 0.7% in November, in line with expectations.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,336.48 +4.65 +0.07%

DAX 9,544.43 -19.46 -0.20%

CAC 40 4,111.91 +18.71 +0.46%

U.S. stock futures advanced amid speculation the Federal Reserve will remain supportive of the economy even as policy makers gear up for an interest-rate increase.

Global markets:

FTSE 6,283.29 -48.54 -0.77%

CAC 4,063.69 -29.51 -0.72%

DAX 9,482.33 -81.56 -0.85%

Nikkei 16,819.73 +64.41 +0.38%

Hang Seng 22,585.84 -84.66 -0.37%

Shanghai Composite 3,060.26 +38.75 +1.28%

Crude oil $54.47 (-2.59%)

Gold $1196.70 (+0.18%)

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

Upgrades:

Twitter (TWTR) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Pivotal Research Group, target $42

Google (GOOG) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Pivotal Research Group, target $610

Downgrades:

Verizon (VZ) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman, target lowered to $48 from $55

Other:

General Electric (GE) target lowered to $28 from $30 at RBC Capital Mkts

American Express (AXP) initiated with a Overweight at Morgan Stanley, target $110

3M (MMM) target raised to $190 from $164 at BofA/Merrill

In today's session the FTSE 100 index lost -0.73% quoted at 6,285.30 points, France's CAC 40 declined -0.45% trading at 4,074.77. Germany's DAX 30 is down -0.65% at 9,501.71 points.

The relentless drop in oil prices quoted near five-year lows and Russia's financial crisis weigh on European stocks. Investors are also focusing on developments in Greece where a parliamentary vote for president is scheduled for today. The Greek presidency candidate is Stavros Dimas. There are three possible votes in parliament. If the candidate isn't elected in three possible votes, the parliament will be dissolved.

Data on Eurozone's CPI was in line with expectations with a reading of -0.2% for November. Inflation is now at +0.3% on a yearly basis, far below the ECB's target of 2%. Now all eyes are on the FOMC meeting and the FED's interest rate decision due 19:00 GMT and U.S. CPI due 13:30 GMT.

MARKETWATCH

What Wall Street's big-money managers predict for 2015

Buy Japan. Buy Europe. Buy technology. Avoid energy. Avoid Russia.

That's what the Big Money is saying as we get ready for the new year. This is according to the latest in-depth survey of institutional money managers conducted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In total, the poll-takers interviewed over 150 professional investment managers around the world with nearly $450 billion in assets under management.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-wall-streets-big-money-managers-predict-for-2015-2014-12-17

BLOOMBERG

Fed Won't Stop Gold's Recovery in '15, ANZ Says as Asia Buys

Gold prices will recover next year as demand in China and India improves, according to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., which forecast an advance for bullion even as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-17/fed-won-t-stop-gold-s-recovery-in-15-anz-predicts-citing-asia.html

BBC

Rouble regains ground as trading remains nervous

Russia's rouble has regained ground from Tuesday's all-time low, although trading remains edgy and volatile.

It opened 4% lower on Wednesday, but edged up. In early trading, one US dollar bought 66 roubles, far fewer than the record low of 79 on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30512079

BUSINESSSPECTATOR

Oil prices skid ahead of Fed meeting

US oil prices resumed their downward slide in Asian trade on Wednesday, and Brent crude stayed below the key $US60 mark, as markets braced for the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting later in the day.

The market expects the Fed to change some of the language in its policy statement, when it concludes its two-day meeting, to signal that a rate hike is likely in mid-2015. Commodity markets, which have benefited from the easing of US monetary policy in the last few years, could come under pressure if the Fed tightens its stance. Analysts also expect an upward revision to US GDP growth forecasts in response to the slump in oil prices.

Source: https://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2014/12/17/markets/oil-prices-skid-ahead-fed-meeting

European stock indices declined at the start. UK's FTSE 100 index was down 0.57% to 6,295.82 points. Germany's DAX 30 fell 0.63% to 9,503.38 points, while France's CAC 40 decreased 0.40% to 4,076.97.

Lower energy and mining stocks weighed on markets.

Investors are awaiting the Fed' interest rate decision today. They expects new signs for further monetary policy.

The Greek parliament will elect a Greek president today. The Greek presidency candidate is Stavros Dimas. There are three possible votes in parliament. If the candidate isn't elected in three possible votes, the parliament will be dissolved.

U.S. markets were trading lower on Tuesday in a volatile session. The DOW JONES lost -0.65% shedding early gains closing at 17,068.87 points, the S&P 500 declined -0.85% as technology shares slumped, with a final quote of 1,972.74 points. Indices were weighed down by weak U.S. economic data as the U.S. preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 53.7 in December from 55.8 in November, missing expectations for a rise to 56.1. That was the lowest level since January 2014. Soft U.S. housing data added to the concerns. Markets now await data on consumer inflation, the current account and the FED's interest rate decision.

Chinese stocks added gains while trading in Hong Kong was negative. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading -0.22% at 22,620.70. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,060.26 points, a gain of +1.28%.

Japan's Nikkei added +0.38% closing at 16,819.73 moving away from a 6-1/2 week low. Japanese exports rose less than analysts predicted in November whereas imports unexpectedly decreased.

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

Nikkei 225 16,755.32 -344.08 -2.01%

Hang Seng 22,670.5 -357.35 -1.55%

Shanghai Composite 3,021.52 +68.10 +2.31%

FTSE 100 6,331.83 +149.11 +2.41%

CAC 40 4,093.2 +87.82 +2.19%

Xetra DAX 9,563.89 +229.88 +2.46%

S&P 500 1,972.74 -16.89 -0.85%

NASDAQ Composite 4,547.83 -57.32 -1.24%

Dow Jones 17,068.87 -111.97 -0.65%