Critics of quantitative easing say it doesn't do much to help the real economy and is instead a "backdoor" bailout of banks.
The eurozone will commence a bond-buying program in March, but its specs are from the U.S. model.
Markit's Eurozone Composite Flash Purchasing Managers' Index bounced to a five-month high of 52.2 from December's 51.4.
Lifted by the global surge in equities, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose to an eight-week high.
The European Central Bank announced Thursday a 60 billion-euro-a-month stimulus program aimed at spurring growth and averting deflation.
Market expectations are sky-high for the European Central Bank to unveil large-scale quantitative easing.
The surprise move follows Denmark's rate cut and the Swiss National Bank's decision to drop its cap on the Swiss currency against the euro.
After a bouncy day, U.S. markets settled in the green. Investors are looking to Brussels for a stimulus signal.
Financial markets are already starting to pay the price of central bank wavering and lack of cooperation with higher volatility.
U.S. markets managed to eke out a slight gain amid uncertainty about Asia and Europe.
Mervyn King said he was concerned about a persistent weakness in global economic demand, six years on from the depths of the financial crisis.
The French leader's comments reinforced expectations that the ECB will follow other major central banks into quantitative easing.
The euro fell from nearly $1.40 in May to $1.15 last Friday, its slide gathering pace as expectations mount that the ECB will launch QE.
Oil prices are causing energy firms to lay off employees, underscoring concern for the U.S. economy, according to the "Beige Book."
The fall in inflation has given some respite to households with average earnings rising by more than prices.
Market signals of deflation, at least in Europe, are becoming harder to ignore. All eyes are on the European Central Bank.