European stocks fell today as weaker-than-expected financial results of companies outweighed gains from upbeat U.S. data.

"We see a mixed bag of corporate earnings," - said Alessandro Fezzi, senior market analyst at LGT Bank Schweiz AG. - «European and Swiss companies have to deal with negative currency effects. Tougher sanctions against Russia also pressured mood. Russia has already warned the consequences. Rather, the conflict will not end very soon, so that the market sentiment for a while will be worse than usual. "

With regard to economic statistics, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that gross domestic product expanded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of up to 4.0% in the second quarter. Economists had forecast an increase of 3.1% for the quarter. The rise in stocks and acceleration in consumer spending led to widespread growth and leveled a lot of resistance from increased imports. Growth has replaced the first quarter, when the economy contracted by 2.1%. While this was the worst quarter in the current recovery, this figure reflects an upward revision from the previously estimated 2.9% reduction. The economy grew by about 1% during the first half of 2014. Annual changes published on Wednesday, showed that the economy also expanded by 4% in the second half of 2013, it is the best indicator for the six months to 10 years.

Another report showed that employment in the U.S. private sector continued to show significant growth in the month of July, according to a report released Wednesday by ADP, although the pace of job growth were lower than estimates of economists. ADP reported that private sector employment increased by 218,000 jobs in July, after a gain of 281,000 jobs in June. Economists had expected employment to rise by about 234,000.

Also, add that investors are waiting for the end of the two-day meeting of the Federal Reserve System. Analysts predict that the leaders of the Central Bank once again reduce the amount of the third round of quantitative easing program by $ 10 billion - to $ 25 billion

National benchmark indexes fell in 12 of the 18 western European markets.

FTSE 100 6,773.44 -34.31 -0.50% CAC 40 4,312.3 -53.28 -1.22% DAX 9,593.68 -59.95 -0.62%

Schneider Electric shares fell during trading up 4.3%, as adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter did not live analysts' forecasts.

Airbus aircraft manufacturing concert capitalization increased by 3.6%. Net income in the first half jumped 50% on substantial growth in new orders.

Rates HeidelbergCement securities decreased by 3.1% after the company reported a reduction in operating profit in April-June by 1.5% - up to 699 million euros, as the cost of raw materials in Asia increased. Experts predicted a profit of 714 million euros.

Quotes of the second-capitalization Barclays Bank UK rose by 4.3%. In April-June FCCU returned to profitable levels, despite a drop in revenue from investment banking.

The market value of Holcim, cement maker, fell 5 percent after reporting that second-quarter net profit was in the amount of 406 million francs, compared with forecasts for the level of 459.5 million francs.

Paper Total SA fell 5.1 percent. French oil company said second-quarter profit, excluding changes in inventories fell to $ 3.2 billion, compared to estimates of experts at $ 3.26 billion

U.S. stock futures rose as data showed the U.S. economy rebounded more than forecast in the second quarter and Twitter Inc. (TWTR) rallied before a Federal Reserve policy decision.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,646.23 +28.16 +0.18%

Hang Seng 24,732.21 +91.68 +0.37%

Shanghai Composite 2,181.24 -1.95 -0.09%

FTSE 6,803.61 -4.14 -0.06%

CAC 4,365.52 -0.06 0.00%

DAX 9,670.73 +17.10 +0.18%

Crude oil $101.46 (+0.50%)

Gold $1294.40 (-0.35%)

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

Upgrades:

Twitter (TWTR) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS

Downgrades:

Other:

Twitter (TWTR) target raised from $60 to $65 at RBC Capital Mkts

Twitter (TWTR) target raised from $35 to $45 at Wunderlich

European stocks were little changed as investors weighed earnings from companies including Schneider Electric Plc and Airbus Group NV, and the U.S. joined Europe in imposing new sanctions on Russia for its role in the insurgency in Ukraine. U.S. stock futures were also little changed, while Asian shares rose.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced late yesterday penalties for American citizens dealing with equity or bonds of VTB Bank OAO, Bank of Moscow and Russian Agricultural Bank. United Shipbuilding Corp., which has contracts with the Russian military, was also sanctioned.

The Federal Reserve will reduce its monthly purchases for the sixth time to $25 billion from $35 billion as it ends a two-day meeting after European markets close today, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

An ADP Research Institute report at 8:15 a.m. New York time may show U.S. companies added 230,000 workers to their payrolls in July, following a 281,000 increase last month, according to the median economist projection in a Bloomberg survey. A government report 15 minutes later may show the U.S. economy expanded 3 percent in the second-quarter, following a 2.9 percent contraction in the first three months of the year.

Schneider declined 3.2 percent after first-half adjusted earnings missed analysts' estimates.

Airbus climbed 5.2 percent after posting a 10 percent increase in first-half earnings.

FTSE 100 6,805.04 -2.71 -0.04%

CAC 40 4,353.8 -11.78 -0.27%

DAX 9,641.04 -12.59 -0.13%

Asian stocks rose for a fourth day, with the regional benchmark index extending a six-year high, before the Federal Reserve updates markets on monetary policy today and as the U.S. and European Union strengthened sanctions against Russia.

S&P/ASX 200 5,622.9 +34.46 +0.62%

TOPIX 1,292.24 +1.83 +0.14%

SHANGHAI COMP 2,181.24 -1.95 -0.09%

Honda Motor Co. climbed 3.1 percent in Tokyo after the carmaker raised its profit forecast to the highest in seven years.

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. gained 1.7 percent as it prepares to take Hong Kong's Wing Hang Bank Ltd. private after shareholders accepted its $5 billion takeover offer.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. tumbled 9.5 percent after South Korea's biggest shipbuilder reported a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss.

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

HANG SENG 24,633.64 +205.01 +0.84%

S&P/ASX 200 5,588.4 +11.01 +0.20%

SHANGHAI COMP 2,183.04 +5.09 +0.23%

FTSE 100 6,807.75 +19.68 +0.29%

CAC 40 4,365.58 +20.81 +0.48%

Xetra DAX 9,653.63 +55.46 +0.58%

S&P 500 1,969.95 -8.96 -0.45%

NASDAQ 4,442.7 -2.21 -0.05%

Dow Jones 16,912.11 -70.48 -0.42%