Swiss Economic Barometer, composite indicator for the Swiss economy, dropped 1.4 points to 89.5 in April, the lowest gauge since 2011, below expectations for 91.45, and down from 90.9 in March and 90.1 in February, when the SNB removed the currency peg to the shared currency.
The Bank of Japan lowered its growth and inflation forecasts, as a slew of soft data highlighted weakness in the world's third largest economy.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits declined last week to the lowest level in 15 years, suggesting healthy job creation.
After four consecutive months in the red, the Euro bloc's consumer inflation recorded zero growth in April, adding to signs that deflationary fears have been easing.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept the official cash rate on hold at 3.5%, but signalled that it may cut it in case demand and prices weaken.
Japan's industrial production declined slightly in March for the second straight month as the nation struggles to grow despite lower prices for oil and a booming stock market.
The US economy rose marginally in the first quarter amid a fall in business investment and exports as the Greenback strengthened, as well as oil prices and harsh winter weather.
The European Central Bank increased the amount of emergency liquidity available to Greek banks, but said that access to funds may become more difficult as bailout negotiations remain at a standstill.
New Zealand's trade surplus was larger than expected in March, mainly due to the re-export of a drilling platform to Singapore in the reported month.
Britain's economy slowed more sharply than expected in the beginning of the year, challenging UK's Prime Minister David Cameron, who heads for re-election campaign next week.
US consumer confidence unexpectedly fell this month amid a slowdown in job creation and concerns about near-term economic outlook.
The number of unemployed in France hit a record high in March, following a timid drop in the beginning of the year and fuelling fears of more problems in the country.
Retail sales in Japan declined at the fastest pace on record in March, underscoring the inability of BoJ policy makers to underpin demand and fuelling speculation of further monetary policy easing.
UK industrial order expectations improved less than expected in April, sapping optimism over the British economic outlook.
Activity growth in the US services sector slowed in April amid a decline in new business growth, but the pace of employment in the sector quickened to the fastest since last June.
The European Central Bank is unlikely to stop its bond-buying programme earlier than planned, according to economists' expectations.
Stephen Poloz, Bank of Canada Governor, admitted that the negative impact of the precipitous decline of oil prices on the Canadian economy will be short-lived and disappear in the second half of this year.
The Swiss National Bank stands ready to intervene in currency market, the central bank's President Thomas Jordan said.
US durable goods, a bellwether of business spending, soared considerably more than expected in March.
German business morale improved further in the current month, as business confidence surged to the highest level in 10 months, a sign the Euro zone's number one economy is set to pick up steam on the back of massive stimulus and a favourable exchange rate.
BoC Governor Stephen Poloz said the January interest-rate cut helped to put the nation's economy back on track amid rebounding crude prices, and added the biggest risk to the outlook may be outperformance of the US.
A preliminary reading of China's manufacturing sector's performance showed a further decline in activity in April, which fell to the lowest level in 12 months, adding to signs Beijing's efforts to cushion a slowdown are yet to help the nation's factories.
Switzerland's trade balance rose unexpectedly in March, according to Federal Statistical Office.
Retail sales in Britain unexpectedly declined last month, driven down by a plunge in sales at petrol stations.