US employment climbed at a solid pace last month and wages recovered after a surprise stall in the preceding month, adding to signs of an improving US economy that could open the door wider to a Fed interest rate lift in September.
German industrial output unexpectedly declined in June, underscoring the risks for the Euro zone's largest economy from a weaker growth in emerging-market countries including China.
AustraliaThe Reserve Bank of Australia delivered a more positive assessment of the nation's economy, saying the monetary policy was likely to remain unchanged for the time being. While the central bank downgraded its economic growth outlook for the current financial year by half a percentage point, it estimated growth pace to accelerate to between 3% and 4.5% by December 2017.
The Bank of Japan kept its optimistic economic assessment and massive stimulus programme unchanged, reflecting its belief that inflation will pick up toward 2% price growth without extra monetary easing.
The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered a more positive assessment of the nation's economy, saying the monetary policy was likely to remain unchanged for the time being.
The Bank of England said on "Super Thursday" that it remained on course to begin gradually raising interest rates in the UK early next year.
The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits rose less than expected last week, suggesting labour market conditions continued to strengthen.
German factory orders rose sharply in June, as a weak Euro fuelled robust global demand even amid turbulence in Greece and China.
Australia's jobless rate unexpectedly jumped, despite the fact that the economy added almost four times the number of new jobs expected in July.
Canada's trade shortfall with the rest of the world unexpectedly contracted in June, led by strong exports of consumer goods. Exports surged the most in more than eight years, rising 6.3% in June.
Service industry in Britain, which makes up around 78% of the UK's GDP, continued to expand in July.
US private employers hired fewer workers in July than expected, reducing expectations of a robust jobs data in the government's payrolls report due Friday.
A slew of softer economic data came out in the Euro zone, including a slowdown in business activity in the services sector across the region's member states, and sharp decline in retail sales.
Business activity in the Chinese services sector rose at the fastest pace in 11 months in July amid stronger new business, a positive sign at a time when factories of the world's second biggest economy are struggling.
New Zealand's unemployment rate climbed as the number of new jobs created failed to meet a growing working population driven by record migration.
The Australian Dollar rebounded from the lowest level in six years after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates unchanged and was more comfortable with the level of the Aussie, whose 20% depreciation versus the Greenback in the last 12 months has supported exporters as well as import-exposed business.
Growth in the UK construction industry unexpectedly slowed in July, hurt by sluggish housebuilding and civil engineering.
"We are moving past the very weak period for the manufacturing sector from early on this year, but that activity has yet to meaningfully increase"- Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan New orders for US factory goods recovered strongly in June amid robust demand for transportation equipment and other goods, a positive sign for the nation's struggling manufacturing sector. According to
Australia's retail sales data exceeded expectations in June with the biggest increase in four months, while household spending for the second quarter likely boosted economic growth.
British manufacturing growth accelerated in July, recovering from the lowest level in more than two years in June.
A closely watched core PCE inflation remained steady in June, while consumer spending and incomes suggest robust, albeit moderate economic growth.
The Euro zone's manufacturing sector continued to expand strongly in July amid the turbulent Greek debt crisis during the month.
Business activity in China's manufacturing sector plunged to the lowest level in two years in July, adding to further signs of the economic slowdown in the Asian giant in the third quarter.
The Canadian economy shocked markets, as the data showed a fifth negative GDP reading in a row.