European stocks were little changed, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index posting its biggest weekly gain in five weeks, as consumer confidence increased more than forecast, while derivatives contracts expired.

The Stoxx 600 gained 0.1 percent to 327.91 at the close of trading. The index has advanced 1.8 percent this week, paring its loss this year to 0.1 percent, as President Vladimir Putin said he wasn’t seeking to split up Ukraine after Crimea voted to join Russia.

Consumer confidence in the euro area improved this month more than projected, according to data from the European Commission. An advance reading showed an index of household confidence increased in March to minus 9.3 from minus 12.7 in February. The median economist estimate compiled by Bloomberg had predicted a reading of minus 12.3.

National benchmark indexes rose in 10 of the 18 western-European markets today. Germany’s DAX gained 0.5 percent, France’s CAC added 0.2 percent, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 also rose 0.2 percent.

Commerzbank climbed 2.5 percent to 13.33 euros. Morgan Stanley raised Germany’s second-largest lender to overweight, similar to buy, from equal weight. Analysts Hubert Lam and Francesca Tondi said non-core assets are undervalued and the likelihood of another capital increase has decreased. Separately, Commerzbank said today that it has already attained its capital requirement target for 2014.

Havas declined 1.8 percent to 5.70 euros. The French advertising agency partly-owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore said net income rose to 128 million euros ($177 million). That missed the 133 million-euro average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg.

Remy fell 3.9 percent to 59.07 euros. The company will find it harder to recover from a slump in Chinese sales because it lacks the global distribution channels of its rivals, according to UBS. Cognac sales may drop as much as 25 percent in the fourth quarter, UBS said.

Vivendi SA lost 1.4 percent to 19.67 euros. Altice SA, which is in talks to buy Vivendi’s SFR phone unit, has no plan to revise its bid even after Bouygues SA sweetened its rival offer yesterday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Altice can change its bid during the three-week exclusivity period ending April 4, the person said.

U.S. stock-index futures advanced. With no major data releases on tap, corporate news and Fed speakers are likely to claim most of investors’ attention.

Global markets:

Crude oil $99.22 (+0.32%)

Gold $1337.80 (+0.55%).

Upgrades:

Goldman upgraded United Tech (UTX) from Neutral to Buy, target raised from $123 to $138

Downgrades:

Goldman downgraded Boeing (BA) from Buy to Neutral

Other:

European stocks gained, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index heading for its biggest weekly advance in five weeks, as investors watched the expiry of derivative contracts. U.S. stock-index futures and Asian shares also rose.

The Stoxx 600 rose 0.4 percent to 328.92 at 10:26 a.m. in London. The index has added 2.1 percent this week, for a 0.2 percent gain this year, as President Vladimir Putin said he wasn’t seeking to split up Ukraine after Crimea voted to join Russia.

“The market has proven to be very resilient and we think it will trade within this range in the next few months,” Supriya Menon, a strategist at Pictet Asset Management, said by phone from London. “We did turn more cautious on Europe at the end of February because so much is already priced into valuations. You have to be much more tactical now with your entry points to take advantage of any dips in the market.”

Trading may be more volatile today and volumes might be greater as futures and options contracts expire in a process known as witching. The VStoxx Index, which measures expected Euro Stoxx 50 Index volatility using options prices, has fallen 24 percent this week, for its largest weekly drop in 14 months.

Consumer confidence in the euro area improved this month, economists predicted before a report at 3 p.m. GMT. An advance reading will probably show the European Commission’s index of household confidence increased in March to minus 12.3 from minus 12.7 in February, according to the median of estimates.

Commerzbank climbed 3 percent to 13.40 euros. Morgan Stanley raised Germany’s second-largest lender to overweight, similar to buy, from equal weight. Analysts Hubert Lam and Francesca Tondi said non-core assets are undervalued and the likelihood of another capital increase has decreased.

Meggitt increased 1.7 percent to 477.6 pence. UBS upgraded its rating to buy from neutral, with analyst Charles Armitage citing the stock’s value relative to the FTSE 100 Index. The aerospace and defense engineering company lost 11 percent this year through yesterday, compared with a 3.1 percent retreat for the U.K. equity benchmark in the same period. Meggitt traded at 12.4 times projected earnings as of yesterday’s close, below the average of 13.1 for the gauge.

Havas slipped 1.6 percent to 5.71 euros. The French advertising agency partly-owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore said net income rose to 128 million euros ($176 million). That missed the 133 million-euro average analyst estimate.

Crest Nicholson Holdings Plc (CRST) declined 4.5 percent to 382 pence. Deutsche Bank AG is selling as many as 16.5 million shares in the U.K. housebuilder, according to a term sheet. The German lender is its largest publicly disclosed shareholder, holding a 10 percent stake.

At the current moment

FTSE 100 6,567.86 +25.42 +0.39%

CAC 40 4,342.01 +14.10 +0.33%

DAX 9,338.95 +42.83 +0.46%

Asian stocks rose, with a regional index of shares outside Japan rebounding from the biggest loss yesterday since August.

Nikkei 225 Closed

S&P/ASX 200 5,338.08 +44.08 +0.83%

Shanghai Composite 2,047.62 +54.14 +2.72%

Li & Fung Ltd. surged 18 percent in Hong Kong after the world’s largest supplier of clothes and toys to retailers reported profit that beat analyst estimates and proposed to spin off its branding and licensing business.

Gome Electrical Appliances Holding Ltd. gained 8.3 percent in the city as earnings exceeded forecasts.

Metcash Ltd. slumped 9.5 percent in Sydney after the consumer goods marketing firm missed profit projections and said it will cut its dividend.