Stock indices closed mixed. Health care sector and Italian bank ratings cut by Standards and Poor's weighed on markets. Roche Holding AG shares dropped 6.1% after reporting disappointing results from a clinical trial.

Standards and Poor's lowered Italian bank ratings because the growth would be slower than expected.

The Gfk German consumer confidence index increased to 9.0 in January from 8.7 in December, beating forecasts for a rise to 8.9.

Eurozone's adjusted current account surplus dropped to €20.5 billion in October from €32.0 billion in September. September's figure was revised up from a surplus of €30.0 billion. Analysts had expected a surplus of €27.8 billion.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,545.27 +79.27 +1.23 %

DAX 9,786.96 -24.10 -0.25 %

CAC 40 4,241.65 -7.84 -0.18 %

U.S. equity-index futures climbed and crude advanced amid efforts by central banks to support growth.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,621.4 +411.35 +2.39%

Hang Seng 23,116.63 +284.42 +1.25%

Shanghai Composite 3,109.69 +52.17 +1.71%

FTSE 6,488.38 +22.38 +0.35%

CAC 4,216.37 -33.12 -0.78%

DAX 9,719.99 -91.07 -0.93%

Crude oil $57.73 (+2.21%)

Gold $1197.50 (+0.23%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) target lowered to $35 from 42 at Cowen

Twitter (TWTR) initiated at Perform Oppenheimer, target $36

European indices reversed early gains after moving up for four days supported by U.S. indices after the FED statement and good U.S. employment data. Today Italian Banks were downgraded by S&P, weighing on the markets. The energy sector was under pressure again as oil prices further decline. Earlier in the session markets found support in a better-than-expected Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index added +0.30% supported by better-than expected CBI Reatil Sales quoted at 6,485.40 points, France's CAC 40 lost -0.72% trading at 4,218.75. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading -0.71% at 9,741.44 points.

European indices continued to rise for a fourth day amid a global rally during early trading tracking strong gains on the Wall Street where the Dow Jones posted its biggest daily gains in three years. Stocks were supported by a better-than expected German Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey. The index rose to a six-month high of 9.0 from 8.7 in the previous month. Analysts had expected Consumer Confidence to be at 8.9 for November. The Producer Price index stabilized with a reading of 0.0% compared to forecasts of -0.2%. Equities remained supported after the FED's decision on Wednesday to be "patient" before hiking interest rates, making it unlikely seeing an raise before the FED's April meeting. Markets await Eurozone's Current account, the outcome of E.U.'s economic summit, U.K.'s PSNB and CBI Retail Sales Volume.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.73% quoted at 6,513.27 points supported by strong gains in the financial sector, Germany's DAX 30 added +0.58% trading at 9,868.65. France's CAC 40 rose by +0.78%, currently trading at 4,282.46 points.

U.S. markets were rallying on Thursday again after the FED's statement. The DOW JONES added +2.43% closing at 17,778.15 points, the S&P 500 rallied +2.40 with a final quote of 2,061.23. Upbeat data on Initial Jobless Claims showed 289,000 people filing for jobless benefits. 6,000 less than previously and below expectations of 297,000 new applications. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey being below estimates at 24.5 compared to 26.3 and 40.8 in October could not harm the bullish sentiment. It was the Wall Street's biggest two-day advance since 2011.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng added +1.35% to 23,140.34. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,109.69 points, a gain of +1.71% after very volatile trading. China revised up the size of its economy. Chinese GDP rose by 3.4% in 2013. Market participants still expect more economic stimulus from the PBoC.

Japan's Nikkei added +2.39% closing at 17,261.40 after the BoJ's decision to leave interest rates at the current level, continuing the stimulus program and giving a brighter view of the economy.