Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 23-10-2014.

Stock indices closed higher on positive PMI reports from the Eurozone. Eurozone's preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 50.7 in October from 50.3 in September, beating expectations for a decline to 50.0.

Eurozone's preliminary services PMI remained unchanged at 52.4 in October, beating forecasts of a decrease to 52.0.

Germany's preliminary manufacturing PMI climbed to 51.8 in October from 49.9 in September, beating forecasts of a fall to 49.6.

Germany's preliminary services PMI fell to 54.8 in October from 55.7 in August, missing forecasts of a decline to 55.0.

France's preliminary manufacturing PMI declined to 47.3 in October from 48.8 in September, missing expectations for a decrease to 48.6.

Germany's preliminary services PMI decreased to 48.1 in October from 48.4 in August, missing forecasts of a fall to 48.2.

Retail sales in the U.K. fell 0.3% in September, missing expectations for a 0.1% decrease, after a 0.4% gain in August.

That data could mean that the economy in the U.K. is losing momentum, and the Bank of England may delay its interest rate hike.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,419.15 +19.42 +0.30%

DAX 9,047.31 +107.17 +1.20%

CAC 40 4,157.68 +52.59 +1.28%

U.S. stock futures advanced as higher profit forecasts from companies including Caterpillar Inc. and a surprise gain in euro-area manufacturing boosted confidence in the global economy.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,138.96 -56.81 -0.37%

Hang Seng 23,333.18 -70.79 -0.30%

Shanghai Composite 2,302.42 -24.14 -1.04%

FTSE 6,398.99 -0.74 -0.01%

CAC 4,135.3 +30.21 +0.74%

DAX 8,985.2 +45.06 +0.50%

Crude oil $80.81 (+0.55%)

Gold $1234.90 (-0.85%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Boeing (BA) downgraded from Outperform to Neutral at Credit Suisse, target lowered from $162 to $133

Other:

AT&T (T) target lowered from $36 to $35 at RBC Capital Mkts

AT&T (T) target lowered from $42 to $38 at Oppenheimer

Stock indices traded little changed traded little changed after PMI reports from the Eurozone. Eurozone's preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 50.7 in October from 50.3 in September, beating expectations for a decline to 50.0.

Eurozone's preliminary services PMI remained unchanged at 52.4 in October, beating forecasts of a decrease to 52.0.

Germany's preliminary manufacturing PMI climbed to 51.8 in October from 49.9 in September, beating forecasts of a fall to 49.6.

Germany's preliminary services PMI fell to 54.8 in October from 55.7 in August, missing forecasts of a decline to 55.0.

France's preliminary manufacturing PMI declined to 47.3 in October from 48.8 in September, missing expectations for a decrease to 48.6.

Germany's preliminary services PMI decreased to 48.1 in October from 48.4 in August, missing forecasts of a fall to 48.2.

Retail sales in the U.K. fell 0.3% in September, missing expectations for a 0.1% decrease, after a 0.4% gain in August.

That data could mean that the economy in the U.K. is losing momentum, and the Bank of England may delay its interest rate hike.

Corporate earnings reports also weighed on markets.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,350.7 -49.03 -0.77%

DAX 8,926.54 -13.60 -0.15%

CAC 40 4,092.28 -12.81 -0.31%

Asian stock indices closed lower, following losses on Wall Street. Concerns over the slowdown of the global growth still weighed on markets.

The better-than-expected Chinese economic data has not impressed investors. China's HSBC manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 50.4 in October from 50.2 in September. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 50.2.

Japan's preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index increased to 52.8 in October from 51.7 in September, exceeding expectations for a rise to 52.1.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225 15,138.96 -56.81 -0.37%

Hang Seng 23,333.18 -70.79 -0.30%

Shanghai Composite 2,302.42 -24.14 -1.04%