European stocks fell, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index heading for its biggest weekly decline in 13 months, as Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras lost one of his two coalition partners and investors weighed the outlook for Federal Reserve stimulus measures.

The Stoxx 600 declined 0.9 percent to 281.08 at 4:30 p.m. in London after earlier gaining as much as 1 percent. The equity benchmark is heading for its fifth weekly decline, the longest streak of losses in two years, as the Fed said it may end bond purchases next year if the economy strengthens in line with forecasts. The gauge has pared its yearly gain to 0.5 percent.

In Greece, the Democratic Left party withdrew its ministers from the coalition government amid disagreement over Samaras's decision to close the nation's public broadcaster. The departure of the party's 14 lawmakers would leave the premier with a parliamentary majority of only three seats.

Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis said he believes Greece doesn't need new elections and will support efforts to keep the country in the euro, according to statement read out on Athens-based Skai TV.

National Indexes

National benchmark indexes fell in 14 of the 16 western European markets open today.

FTSE 100 6,116.17 -43.34 -0.70% CAC 40 3,658.04 -40.89 -1.11% DAX 7,789.24 -139.24 -1.76%

In China, benchmark money-market rates tumbled from record highs after the central bank injected funds to alleviate the worst cash crunch in at least a decade. The People's Bank of China added funds to the financial system via short-term liquidity operations yesterday, according to Hao Hong, chief China strategist at Bank of Communications Co. in Hong Kong.

European Union finance ministers meet today in Luxembourg to discuss proposals for bank supervision, focusing on laws for the resolution of failed banks.

The European Central Bank probably won't take over as euro-area bank supervisor until the end of 2014, in part because of German approval procedures, according to two European officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. This contrasts with an initial goal of moving to the new system in March, later pushed back to July.

National Bank of Greece fell 11 percent to 3.25 euros, while bookmaker OPAP SA decreased 5.2 percent to 6.35 euros.

SAP AG declined 2.9 percent to 54.99 euros. Oracle, the largest maker of database software, late yesterday posted quarterly sales that missed estimates and forecast profit for the current quarter at the lower end of analysts' projections.

Groupe Eurotunnel (GET), which operates the tunnel connecting England and France, dropped 6.5 percent to 5.14 euros, the lowest price since January 2012, as Natixis and RBC Capital Markets LLC cut their ratings on the stock.

Danone, which owns the Evian water brand, rallied 2.5 percent to 56.47 euros. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised the stock to overweight, similar to a buy rating, from neutral, with analyst Celine Pannuti predicting earnings-per-share growth of 10 percent from next year.

U.S. stock futures rose, signaling the indexes will rebound from the biggest plunge since November 2011.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 13,230.13 +215.55 +1.66%

Hang Seng 20,263.31 -119.56 -0.59%

Shanghai Composite 2,073.1 -10.93 -0.52%

FTSE 6,169.27 +9.76 +0.16%

CAC 3,703.81 +4.88 +0.13%

DAX 7,907.88 -20.60 -0.26%

Crude oil $95.08 -0.06%

Gold $1291.90 +0.44%

Upgrades:

Facebook (FB) upgraded to Buy with $30 price target and a $36 "upside scenario" at UBS

Downgrades:

Other:

Exxon Mobil (XOM) initiated at Outperform at Wells Fargo

Chevron (CVX) initiated at Outperform at Wells Fargo

European stocks advanced, with the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index rebounding from its biggest drop in 19 months. U.S. futures gained and Asian shares were little changed.

European Union finance ministers meet today in Luxembourg to discuss proposals for bank supervision, focusing on laws for the resolution of failed banks.

The European Central Bank probably won't take over as euro-area bank supervisor until the end of 2014, in part because of German approval procedures, according to two European officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. This contrasts with an initial goal of moving to the new system in March, later pushed back to July.

A gauge of commodity producers on the Stoxx 600 rebounded from the lowest level since July 2009. Rio Tinto added 1.2 percent to 2,705.5 pence, Antofagasta rose 1.5 percent to 836.5 pence, while Glencore Xstrata Plc climbed 1 percent to 295.5 pence.

Bayer increased 1.7 percent to 81.95 euros after Goldman Sachs raised its rating on the maker of drugs and agricultural chemicals to buy from neutral, saying the price doesn't reflect recent earnings and growth improvements.

SAP AG declined 2 percent to 55.52 euros. U.S. peer Oracle Corp., the largest maker of database software, late yesterday posted quarterly of sales that missed estimates and forecast profit for the current quarter at the lower end of analysts' projections.

FTSE 100 6,225.67 +66.16 +1.07%

CAC 40 3,733.42 +34.49 +0.93%

DAX 7,965.4 +36.92 +0.47%

Asian stocks outside Japan fell, with a regional gauge heading for its lowest close since September, amid concern the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus and China's economic slowdown may deepen as a cash crunch worsens.

Nikkei 225 13,230.13 +215.55 +1.66 %

Hang Seng 20,258.27 -124.60 -0.61 %

S&P/ASX 200 4,738.8 -19.59 -0.41 %

Shanghai Composite 2,073.78 -10.24 -0.49 %

Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. dropped 2.9 percent, pacing losses among Chinese developers after the nation's money-market rates retreated from records.

Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia's No. 1 gold producer, slumped 3.7 percent as the bullion headed for its biggest weekly drop since September 2011. Honda Motor Co. rose 2 percent, pacing gains among Japanese exporters after the yen weakened.

Nikkei 225 13,014.58 -230.64 -1.74%

Hang Seng 20,431.95 -554.94 -2.64%

S&P/ASX 200 4,758.4 -102.98 -2.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,089.23 -54.22 -2.53%

FTSE 100 6,159.51 -189.31 -2.98%

CAC 40 3,698.93 -140.41 -3.66%

DAX 7,928.48 -268.60 -3.28%

Dow -352.11 14,760.08 -2.33%

Nasdaq -78.56 3,364.64 -2.28%

S&P -40.6 1,588.33 -2.49%