Stock indices traded little changed due to expectations for further stimulus measures from the European Central Bank and weak economic data in the Eurozone.

The number of people unemployed in Germany surged by 24,000 this month to 2.905 million. That was the largest increase in five years in May. Analysts had expected a decline by 14,000.

The German unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.7%. This figure was expected by analysts.

Consumer spending in France fell 0.3% in April, after a 0.4% gain in March. Analysts had expected a 0.5 increase. On a yearly basis, consumer spending in France dropped 0.5% in April, after a 1.2% fall in March.

Adjusted M3 money supply in the Eurozone climbed 0.8% in April, after a 1.1% increase in March. Analysts had forecasted a 1.2% gain.

Private loans in the Eurozone declined 1.8% in April (March: -2.2%), beating expectations of a 2.1% fall.

Osram Licht AG shares dropped 6.3% after lowering its sales forecast for the full year.

Elekta AB shares declined 9.0% after reporting weaker-than-expected quarter earnings.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc declined 1.5% after revealing that the company is the subject of a criminal investigation.

Indexes on the close:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                             6,851.22                              +6.28                      +0.09%

DAX                                     9,939.17                               -1.65                       -0.02%

CAC 40                                4,531.63                               +1.88                      +0.04%

U.S. stock futures are mixed as investors weighed corporate earnings before a report that may show a contraction in economic growth.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,670.95 +34.43 +0.24%

Hang Seng 23,080.03 +135.73 +0.59%

Shanghai Composite 2,050.23 +15.66 +0.77%

FTSE 6,847.92 +2.98 +0.04%

CAC 4,526.53 -3.22 -0.07%

DAX 9,925.06 -15.76 -0.16%

Crude oil $103.98 (-0.12%)

Gold $1264.30 (-0.08%)

Upgrades:

Twitter Inc (TWTR) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Nomura

Downgrades:

Other:

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $700 from $615 at Bernstein

Stock indices traded little changed after the release of disappointing economic data in the Eurozone.

The number of people unemployed in Germany surged by 24,000 this month to 2.905 million. That was the largest increase in five years in May. Analysts had expected a decline by 14,000.

The German unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.7%. This figure was expected by analysts.

Consumer spending in France fell 0.3% in April, after a 0.4% gain in March. Analysts had expected a 0.5 increase. On a yearly basis, consumer spending in France dropped 0.5% in April, after a 1.2% fall in March.

Adjusted M3 money supply in the Eurozone climbed 0.8% in April, after a 1.1% increase in March. Analysts had forecasted a 1.2% gain.

Private loans in the Eurozone declined 1.8% in April (March: -2.2%), beating expectations of a 2.1% fall.

Osram Licht AG shares dropped 7.4% after lowering its sales forecast for the full year.

Elekta AB shares declined 9.0% after reporting weaker-than-expected quarter earnings.

Current figures:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                             6,849.76                              +4.82                      +0.07%

DAX                                     9,949.72                               +8.90                      +0.09%

CAC 40                                4,533.62                               +3.87                      +0.09%

Monetary policies of central banks have an impact on the dynamics of exchange rates. Therefore, information about these regulatory bodies is required for a successful trade on the financial markets.

Our new website section (Central banks) provides information on the eight major central banks, their monetary policies and their outlooks.

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Asian stock indices increased due to strong U.S. economic data, following the U.S. stock indices. U.S. durable goods orders rose 0.8% in April, after a 2.9% gain in March. The U.S. consumer confidence index climbed to 83.0 in May, from 81.7 in April.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225                       14,670.95              +34.43        +0.24%

Hang Seng                       23,080.03            +135.73         +0.59%

Shanghai Composite        2,050.23              +15.66         +0.77%

Nikkei 14,636.52 +34.00 +0.23%

Hang Seng 22,944.3 -18.88 -0.08%

Shanghai Composite 2,034.57 -6.91 -0.34%

S&P 1,911.91 +11.38 +0.60%

NASDAQ 4,237.07 +51.26 +1.22%

Dow 16,675.5 +69.23 +0.42%

FTSE 1,378.82 +2.38 +0.17%

CAC 40 4,529.75    +2.82 +0.06%

DAX 9,940.82 +48.00 +0.49%