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

Hang Seng 23,893.14 +456.02 +1.95%

Shanghai Composite 2,532.88 +46.09 +1.85%

FTSE 100 6,729.79 -20.97 -0.31%

CAC 40 4,368.44 +21.21 +0.49%

Xetra DAX 9,785.54 +52.99 +0.54%

S&P 500 2,069.41 +5.91 +0.29%

NASDAQ Composite 4,754.89 +41.92 +0.89%

Dow Jones 17,817.9 +7.84 +0.04%

Most stock indices closed higher on the better-than-expected Ifo figures from Germany. German Ifo business climate index rose to 104.7 in November from 103.2 in October, beating expectations for a decline to 103.0.

Investors speculate that the European Central Bank (ECB) is moving closer to launch the quantitative easing programme after the ECB President Mario Draghi said on Friday the central bank is prepared to add further stimulus measures if needed.

Germany's Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann expressed doubt at a conference in Madrid on Monday that a potential government bond-buying program would be sufficient to boost the economy in the Eurozone.

The European Central Bank confirmed on Monday that it bought €2.238bn in covered bonds over the previous week.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,729.79 -20.97 -0.31%

DAX 9,785.54 +52.99 +0.54%

CAC 40 4,368.44 +21.21 +0.49%

U.S. stock-index futures rose, indicating equities may extend all-time highs after a fifth week of gains, as confidence in the global economy grew amid support from central banks.

Global markets:

Hang Seng 23,893.14 +456.02 +1.95%

Shanghai Composite 2,533.89 +47.10 +1.89%

FTSE 6,747.34 -3.42 -0.05%

CAC 4,380.75 +33.52 +0.77%

DAX 9,807.76 +75.21 +0.77%

Crude oil $76.24 (-0.35%)

Gold $1197.10 (-0.07%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Verizon (VZ) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup

Exxon Mobil (XOM) downgraded to Mkt Perform from Mkt Outperform at JMP Securities

Chevron (CVX) downgraded to Outperform from Strong Buy at Raymond James

Other:

Apple (AAPL) target raised from $120 to $135 at Susquehanna

European stocks are mainly positive near two-month highs after continuing Friday's rally fuelled by ECB president Mario Draghi's dovish comments and hints that the ECB is going to fight disinflation and the peoples Bank of China's surprise cut in benchmark interest rates. Today German IFO Business climate that measures attitudes toward business prospects over the next six months in Germany, Eurozone's biggest economy and indicator for the whole Eurozone's economic growth, published at 09:00 GMT were better-than-expected for November reading 104.7 beating forecasts by 1.7. The FTSE 100 index is currently trading almost unchanged -0.09% at 6,725.27 points, whereas Germany's DAX 30 gained +0.68% trading at 9,799.01 points and France's CAC 40 is up +0.85% currently quoted at 4,384.12 points.

European stocks started slightly positive near two-month highs after being boosted on Friday by ECB president Mario Draghi's dovish comments and hints that the ECB is going to fight disinflation. The peoples Bank of China's surprise cut in benchmark interest rates further fuelled bullish sentiment. German IFO Business climate that measures attitudes toward business prospects over the next six months in Germany, Eurozones biggest economy, published at 09:00 GMT was better-than-expected for November reading 104.7 beating forecasts by 1.7. Data on IFO current assessment was better at 110.0 versus its forecasts of 108.2 and IFO Expectations rose to 99.7 with a forecast of 98.5.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading little changed at +0.01% at 6,751.12 points, Germany's DAX 30 is up +0.78% trading at 9,808.50 points and France's CAC 40 gained +0.70% currently quoted at 4,377.66 points.

The DOW Jones and S&P 500 were trading higher in Friday's trading session after China's cut in interest rates and hints from the ECB to further support growth and fight disinflation. The DOW Jones closed at 17,810.06, a plus of +0.51%, the S&P500 edged up by +0.52% closing at 2,063.50 points.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng trading +1.95% at 23,895.01 and China's Shanghai Composite closing at 2,533.89 points, a gain of 1.89% rallied after U.S. indices reached a new record and the Peoples Bank of China's unexpected benchmark interest rate cut.

Japan's Nikkei was closed for a public holiday.