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Stock indices closed lower as investors are awaiting the ECB's interest rate decision on Thursday.

German adjusted retail sales climbed 2.9% in January, after a 0.6% gain in December. December's figure was revised up from a 0.2% increase. Analysts had expected retail sales to rise 0.6%.

Eurozone's producer price index dropped 0.9% in January, missing expectations for a 0.6% decrease, after a 1.0% decline in December.

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. rose to 60.1 in February from 59.1 in January, beating expectations for a decline to 59.0.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,889.13 -51.51 -0.74%

DAX 11,280.36 -130.00 -1.14%

CAC 40 4,869.25 -48.07 -0.98%

Statistics Canada released its industrial product and raw materials price indexes on Tuesday. The Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) fell 0.4% in January, beating forecasts for a 2.2% drop, after a 1.5% decrease in December. December's figure was revised up from a 1.6% decline.

That was the fifth straight monthly fall.

The decline was driven by lower prices for energy and petroleum products. Energy and petroleum products plunged 11.2% in January.

The Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) dropped 7.7% in January, missing expectations for a 6.8% fall, after a 7.5% decline in December. December's figure was revised up from a 7.6% decrease.

That was the seventh straight monthly decline.

The drop was driven by lower prices for crude energy products. Crude energy products declined 19.1% in January.

Statistics Canada released GDP (gross domestic product) data on Tuesday. Canada's GDP increased 0.3% in December, exceeding expectations for a 0.1% gain, after a 0.2% fall in November.

The increase was driven by higher manufacturing output.

U.S. stock-index futures retreated after the Nasdaq Composite Index closed above 5,000 for the first time in 15 years, as investors awaited jobs data and a policy meeting from the European Central Bank later this week.

Global markets:

Nikkei 18,815.16 -11.72 -0.06%

Hang Seng 24,702.78 -184.66 -0.74%

Shanghai Composite 3,264.67 -71.61 -2.15%

FTSE 6,921.48 -19.16 -0.28%

CAC 4,907.85 -9.47 -0.19%

DAX 11,402.94 -7.42 -0.07%

Crude oil $49.94 (+0.71%)

Gold $1207.10 (-0.08%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

American Express (AXP) downgraded from Neutral to Underperform at Macquarie

Other:

Apple (AAPL) reiterated at Outperform at Oppenheimer, target raised from $130 to $155

European stocks declined over the course of the day after a positive start. The FTSE and the DAX further retreated from all-time highs set yesterday. Investors now focus on the upcoming ECB meeting on Thursday.

Retail Sales in Europe's largest economy expanded in January far more than analysts had expected and fuelled bullish sentiment. The Federal statistics office Destatis stated the boost in sales comes amid lower consumer prices and strong consumption. Retailers profited from the high employment rate, the highest in Europe. Falling energy prices left consumers with more money to spend. Seasonally adjusted sales rose +2.9%, compared to revised +0.6% (previous +0.2%) in December. Analysts expected an increase of +0.6%.

On an annual basis Retail Sales rose +5.3%, the most since 2010. The previous reading was revised up from +4.0% to +4.8%.

The U.K. Construction sector expanded at a faster pace than expected. The Construction PMI rose from 59.1 points in January to 60.1 points in February, beating expectations of a decrease to 59.0. The increase was driven by a sharp rise in business volumes and an improving economy.

Eurozone's Producer Price Index fell more than expected in January with a reading of -0.9% compared to forecasts of -0.6%.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.11% quoted at 6,932.67. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.06% trading at 11,403.42. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 4,914.87 points, -0.05%.

European stocks open moderately higher on Tuesday. Much stronger than expected German Retail Sales added to positive sentiment. Investors now focus on the upcoming ECB meeting on Thursday.

Retail Sales in Europe's largest economy expanded in January far more than analysts had expected. The Federal statistics office Destatis stated the boost in sales comes amid lower consumer prices and strong consumption. Retailers profited from the high employment rate, the highest in Europe. Falling energy prices left consumers with more money to spend. Seasonally adjusted sales rose +2.9%, compared to revised +0.6% (previous +0.2%) in December. Analysts expected an increase of +0.6%.

On an annual basis Retail Sales rose +5.3%, the most since 2010. The previous reading was revised up from +4.0% to +4.8%.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.23% quoted at 6,956.35 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading +0.24% at 11,438.22 points. Both, DAX and FTSE100 are set new all-time highs in yesterday's trading session. France's CAC 40 added by +0.12%, currently trading at 4,923.20 points.

The Wall Street continued to rally on Monday setting new record closing highs. The S&P 500 closed +0.61% with a final quote of 2,117.39 points. The DOW JONES index rose +0.86% closing at 18,288.63 points. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing purchasing managers' index declined to 52.9 in February from 53.5 in January, missing expectations for a decline to 53.4. That was the lowest reading since January 2014. Personal spending decreased 0.2% in January, after a 0.3% fall in December. Personal income climbed 0.3% in January, after a 0.3% rise in December. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index excluding food and energy rose 0.1% in January, in line with expectations, after a flat reading in December.

Chinese stocks slumped after gaining yesterday on the Peoples Bank of China's rate cut over the weekend. The bank cut benchmark interest rates for the second time in three months by a quarter percentage point to 5.35%. The Hang Seng is trading -0.73% at 24,704.55 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,264.67 points -2.15%.

The Nikkei retreated moderately easing early gains. The index retreated from fresh 15-year highs set on Monday on a stronger Japanese yen, rebounding from a three-week low against the U.S. dollar and profit taking after the recent rally. The Nikkei closed -0.06% with a final quote of 18,815.16 points. Year on year the Japanese Monetary Base for February had a reading of +36.7% compared to +37.4% a year ago. Labor Cash Earnings rose by +1.3%, above expectations of an increase of +0.6% in January. The previous reading was revised down from +1.6% to +1.3%.