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Stock indices traded higher on speculation on news the ECB Executive Board has proposed to purchase 50 billion euros in assets a month through the end of 2016.

Analysts expect that the ECB President Mario Draghi will announce tomorrow a 550 billion-euro bond-buying programme.

The U.K. unemployment rate declined to 5.8% in the September to November quarter from 6.0% in the previous three months to August, beating expectations for a decline to 5.9%.

The claimant count decreased by 29,700 people in December, exceeding expectations for a drop of 24,200 people, after a decrease of 29,600 people in November. November's figure was revised from a decline of 26,900.

Average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, climbed by 1.8% in the September to November period, missing expectations for a 1.9% increase, up from a 1.6% rise in the previous three months.

Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, rose by 1.7% in the September to November period, in line with expectations, after a 1.4% increase in the previous three months.

The Bank of England released its last meeting minutes. All members voted to keep the central bank's monetary policy unchanged. During the five previous months, two members, Ian McCafferty and Martin Weale, voted to raise interest rates to 0.75% from 0.5%.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,728.04 +107.94 +1.63%

DAX 10,299.23 +42.10 +0.41%

CAC 40 4,484.82 +38.80 +0.87%

U.S. stock-index futures declined as International Business Machines Corp. slid and a European Central Bank official cooled speculation on expanding stimulus.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,280.48 -85.82 -0.49%

Hang Seng 24,352.58 +401.42 +1.68%

Shanghai Composite 3,323.44 +150.39 +4.74%

FTSE 6,665.46 +45.36 +0.69%

CAC 4,420.47 -25.55 -0.57%

DAX 10,190.17 -66.96 -0.65%

Crude oil $47.25 (+1.68%)

Gold $1301.10 (+0.56%)

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

Upgrades:

Exxon Mobil (XOM) upgrade from Market Perform to Outperform at Wells Fargo

Downgrades:

Verizon (VZ) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays

Other:

Tesla Motors (TSLA) reiterated at Overweight at Morgan Stanley, target lowered from $290 to $280

IBM reiterated at Buy at Stifel, target lowered from $190 to $180

UnitedHealth (UNH) earned $1.55 per share in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimate of $1.50. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 7.4% year-over-year to $33.43 billion, beating analysts' estimate of $33.15 billion.

The company has confirmed its forecasts for the full fiscal year 2015. It expect $6.00-$6.25 per share (analysts' estimate: $6.17) and revenue of $140,5-$141,5 billion (analysts' estimate: $141.04 billion).

UnitedHealth (UNH) shares increased to $106.51 (+0.84%) prior to the opening bell.

European indices trade mixed today amid expectations on further stimulus measures launched by the ECB after its policy meeting on January 22^nd. Investors seem to be risk aversive amid the recent rebound, assessing downside risks, until the size and nature of the measures taken by the ECB will be known. The ECB president will probably announce a 550 billion-euro bond purchase program, according to Bloomberg.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index advanced by +0.71% quoted at 6,666.91 after solid unemployment data at a six-year low and the BoE leaving interest rates unchanged after a unanimous vote. Two policy makers who called for an interest-rate hike no voted for leaving the benchmark unchanged. France's CAC 40 lost -0.36% trading at 4,429.89. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading -0.32% at 10,224.04.

Later in the day U.S. data on building permits and housing starts will be published.

European indices are trading mixed after four days of gains fuelled by expectations that the ECB will embark into quantitative easing after its upcoming policy meeting on January 22^nd. An interim ruling by the European Court of Justice stated that QE is "in principle" in line with European legislation.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.57% quoted at 6,658.01 points. Market participants are awaiting a set of U.K. data including Claimant count, Unemployment Rate and the Bank of England minutes due at 0930 GMT. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.42% trading at 10,214.63,. France's CAC 40 declined by -0.23%, currently trading at 4,435.89 points.

U.S. Building Permits and Housing Starts are due at 13:30 GMT and may show an improving U.S. economy, according to economists' forecasts.

U.S. markets closed little changed on Tuesday after the IMF cut its growth forecast for 2015 and 2016 but markets were supported by speculation on the ECB's decision on further stimulus after tomorrow's policy meeting. The DOW JONES index added +0.02%, adding only 3.66 points, closing at 17,515.23. The S&P 500 added +0.15% with a final quote of 2,022.55.

Chinese stock markets rebounded from losses for a second day on Wednesday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading +1.48% at 24,305.62 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,323.44 points, a gain of +4.74%. The finance sector rallied as new margin trading rules led to a sell-off two days ago and left the sector largely oversold.

Japan's Nikkei declined on Wednesday by -0.49% with a final quote of 17,280.48. The Bank of Japan held off on further expanding its massive stimulus program and kept the monetary base target unchanged. The Nikkei saw profit-taking after the recent rally and a stronger yen after the BoJ decision weighed on stocks but the prospect of stimulus measures after tomorrows ECB meeting limited losses.

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

S&P/ASX 200 5,307.67 -1.47 -0.03%

TOPIX 1,397.63 +25.22 +1.84%

SHANGHAI COMP 3,173.93 +57.58 +1.85%

FTSE 100 6,620.1 +34.57 +0.52%

CAC 40 4,446.02 +51.09 +1.16%

Xetra DAX 10,257.13 +14.78 +0.14%

S&P 500 2,022.55 +3.13 +0.15%

NASDAQ Composite 4,654.85 +20.46 +0.44%

Dow Jones 17,515.23 +3.66 +0.02%