Most global stocks traded higher on yesterday’s comments by the ECB President Mario Draghi

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.21% to 18,135.72 points on Thursday, while the S&P 500 increased 0.12% to 2,101.04 points. Investors are awaiting the release of the U.S. labour market data on Friday.

The Fed's Beige Book survey showed on Wednesday that optimism prevailed in most Federal Reserve districts.

Most Europe's stock indices traded higher. Stocks remained supported on yesterday's comments by the ECB President Mario Draghi. The European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said at the press conference on Thursday that the central bank will start its 60 billion euro-a-month bond purchases on March, 9. He noted that the ECB will buy euro-dominated public sector securities in the secondary market, and it will also continue to purchase asset-backed securities and covered bonds.

The ECB upgraded its growth estimate to 1.5% for 2015, up from 1% in December last year. Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to be 1.9% in 2016 and 2.1% in 2017.

The ECB downgraded its inflation forecast for this year to 0%, down from its previous inflation forecast of 0.7%, but upgraded the 2016 forecast to 1.5% from 1.3%.

The ECB released its interest decision yesterday. The central bank kept its interest rate unchanged at 0.05%.

UK's FTSE 100 index was down 0.16% to 6,949.71 points. Germany's DAX 30 increased 0.12% to 11,518.3 points, while France's CAC 40 rose 0.05% to 4,965.84.

Eurozone's revised gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.32% in fourth quarter, in line with expectations and matching an initial estimate.

On a yearly basis, Eurozone's revised gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.9% in fourth quarter, in line with expectations, up from an initial estimate of 0.8%.

Consumer inflation expectations for the coming year in the UK declined to 1.9% in February from 2.5% in November. That was the lowest level since late 2001.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.12% to 24,164, China's Shanghai Composite declined 0.22% to 3,241.24. Chinese stocks declined on concerns over growth and tighter liquidity.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.17% to 18,971 on yesterday's comments by the ECB President Mario Draghi.

Japan's leading economic index decreased to 105.1 in January from 105.3 in December, missing expectations for a rise to 105.9. December's figure was revised down from 105.6.

Japan's coincident index rose to 113.0 in January from 110.6 in December. December's figure was revised down from 110.7.