The DAX in Frankfurt was higher by 0.22% and the FTSE in London was rising 0.49%, as European markets digested the China data and as peripheral bond yields fell.
Gold for April delivery was down by 60 cents at $1,670.70 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, while March crude oil futures were up 25 cents at $96.08 a barrel.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury was rising 4/32, diluting the yield to 1.943%. The dollar was down 0.19%, according to the U.S. dollar index.
In corporate news, LinkedIn (LNKD), the social network geared for professionals, beat Wall Street's earnings expectations. Shares were surging more than 10%. Coinstar (CSTR), which owns the owns the Redbox DVD kiosks, said fourth-quarter profit declined 27% due to poor performance at its new ventures. Shares were sliding more than 7.5%. U.S. electronics retailer RadioShack ( RSH ) announced that Walgreen ( WAG ) executive Joseph Magnacca has been appointed CEO of the company. Magnacca served as president of Duane Reade from July 2010 to April 2011. Shares were gaining more than 5%. AOL (AOL) said that its fourth-quarter revenue grew year over year, making for the first quarterly increase in eight years as global advertising revenue rose. Shares were popping more than 6.5%. Activision Blizzard (ATVI), the maker of video game "Call of Duty," posted fourth-quarter earnings that topped analysts' estimates as revenue jumped 26% to $1.77 billion. Shares were jumping more than 8.5%. Activision said Thursday it expects first-quarter adjusted earnings of 10 cents a share on revenue of $690 million. Analysts expect earnings of 9 cents a share on revenue of $693.5 million. Moody's (MCO) posted fourth-quarter earnings that beat expectations by a penny, and better-than-expected revenue. Its full-year outlook also topped estimates, as the rating agency benefited from an increase in global corporate bond issuances. -- Written by Andrea Tse in New York. >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Andrea Tse.Select the service that is right for you!
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