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

Nikkei 225 15,449.79 +127.19 +0.83%

Hang Seng 25,122.95 +167.49 +0.67%

Shanghai Composite 2,245.33 +5.86 +0.26%

FTSE 100 6,779.31 +38.06 +0.56%

CAC 40 4,254.45 +23.80 +0.56%

Xetra DAX 9,334.28 +88.95 +0.96%

S&P 500 1,981.6 +9.86 +0.50%

NASDAQ 4,527.51 +19.20 +0.43%

Dow Jones 16,919.59 +80.85 +0.48%

Stock indices closed higher due to the better-than-forecasted corporate earnings and as tensions over Ukraine eased. A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S shares increased 4.9% after the company upgraded its full-year profit forecast.

Eurozone's current account surplus dropped to 13.1 billion euros in June from a surplus of 19.8 billion euros in May, missing expectations for an increase to 21.3 billion euros. May's figure was revised up from a surplus of 19.5 billion euros.

Consumer price index in the UK decreased 0.3% in July, a 0.2% rise in June.

On a yearly basis, consumer price inflation the UK rose 1.6% in July, missing expectations for a 1.8% gain, after a 1.9% increase in June.

CPI, excluding food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco costs, jumped 1.8% in July, missing expectations for a 1.9% rise, after a 2.0% gain in June.

BHP Billiton Ltd. shares slid 4.9% after reporting the weaker-than-forecasted annual profit.

Sixt SE shares rose 3.2% after reporting the better-than-forecasted second-quarter earnings.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,779.31 +38.06 +0.56%

DAX 9,334.28 +88.95 +0.96%

CAC 40 4,254.45 +23.80 +0.56%

U.S. stock futures advanced as housing starts jumped to the highest level in eight months and an inflation gauge showed price pressures remain limited.

Shares of Home Depot Inc. (HD) gained more than 4% after earnings topped analysts' estimates and the company raised its forecast.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,449.79 +127.19 +0.83%

Hang Seng 25,122.95 +167.49 +0.67%

Shanghai Composite 2,245.33 +5.86 +0.26%

FTSE 6,774.18 +32.93 +0.49%

CAC 4,248.44 +17.79 +0.42%

DAX 9,340.58 +95.25 +1.03%

Crude oil $96.85 (-0.51%)

Gold $1301.30 (-1.00%)

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

Stock indices traded higher due to the better-than-forecasted corporate earnings. A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S shares increased 4% after the company upgraded its full-year profit forecast.

Eurozone's current account surplus dropped to 13.1 billion euros in June from a surplus of 19.8 billion euros in May, missing expectations for an increase to 21.3 billion euros. May's figure was revised up from a surplus of 19.5 billion euros.

Consumer price index in the UK decreased 0.3% in July, a 0.2% rise in June.

On a yearly basis, consumer price inflation the UK rose 1.6% in July, missing expectations for a 1.8% gain, after a 1.9% increase in June.

CPI, excluding food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco costs, jumped 1.8% in July, missing expectations for a 1.9% rise, after a 2.0% gain in June.

Sixt SE shares rose 4.5% after reporting the better-than-forecasted second-quarter earnings.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,767.93 +26.68 +0.40%

DAX 9,318.01 +72.68 +0.79%

CAC 40 4,244.38 +13.73 +0.32%

Asian stock indices closed higher, following gains on U.S. markets as geopolitical tensions eased and due to yesterday's better-than-expected U.S. housing data.

Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France met in Berlin over the weekend. Investors have seen signs of progress in the talks to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Red Cross is close to working out details of a safe-passage plan for a Russian humanitarian convoy.

The NAHB housing market index climbed to 55.0 in August from 53.0 in July. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 53.0.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225 15,449.79 +127.19 +0.83%

Hang Seng 25,122.95 +167.49 +0.67%

Shanghai Composite 2,245.33 +5.86 +0.26%

Asian stocks rose after confidence in the U.S. housing industry climbed to the highest level in seven months and tensions eased over global political conflicts. Hong Kong shares climbed to a six-year high.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.7 percent to 148.99 as of 4:03 p.m. in Hong Kong, with all 10 of its industry groups rising. The gauge jumped 2.7 percent last week, the most in four months, as concern eased over global conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza and Iraq. A measure of U.S. homebuilder sentiment yesterday showed confidence rose in August, indicating the industry is making more headway as the Federal Reserve watches economic data to help gauge adjustments to monetary stimulus.

Amcor advanced 4.6 percent to A$10.75 in Sydney after reporting net income of A$564.8 million ($527.4 million), topping the A$560 million average forecast of analysts.

Terumo climbed 3.5 percent to 2,596 yen in Tokyo. Credit Suisse upgraded the shares to outperform from neutral, citing an expected improvement in profit margins at its hospital business as costs are cut.

Don Quijote slipped 3.7 percent to 5,510 yen after projecting operating profit of 34.8 billion yen for the current fiscal year. That's less than than the 37.7 billion estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Nikkei 225 15,449.79 +127.19 +0.83%

Hang Seng 25,122.95 +167.49 +0.67%

S&P/ASX 200 5,623.78 +36.68 +0.66%

Shanghai Composite 2,245.33 +5.86 +0.26%