U.S. consumer confidence advanced to highest level in five months as consumers became more optimistic on the outlook of the coun-try's economy, said the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan on Friday. An index of sentiment rose to 64.2 points in November from 60.9 points in October.
U.K. producer prices declined to the lowest level in five months in October, the Office for National Statistics announced on Friday. Producer inflation eased on lower row material costs and faltering global demand.
Swiss stocks gained, after Italy approved austerity measures on Friday. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, advanced 1.50%, or 83.25 points, to 5,649.03. The broader Swiss Performance Index rose 1.53%, or 77.67 points, to 5,146.15.
Japanese stocks closed mixed on Friday amid uncertainty over the economic situation in Europe and weaker than expected earnings from local corporations. The Nikkei 225 advanced 0.16%, or 13.67 points, to 8,514.47, while the broader Topix erased 0.16%, or 1.17 points, to 729.13.
Today Italian government will vote on austerity measures to regain investors' confidence and prepare for the new government supposed to be headed by Mario Monti, a former EU Competition Commissioner. According to Gianfanco Fini, speaker of the parliament, Berlusconi is expected to resign immediately after the vote. Fini points out that unity government can be formed only if Berlusconi supports
Japanese core machinery orders declined more than expected in September, said the Cabinet Office on Thursday. Month on month orders fell 8.2 per cent from August on strong yen and on faltering global economic growth.
The Swiss National Bank remains under pressure from politicians and business owners to further weaken the country's national currency amid strong demand for a haven.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee kept key interest rate at record low of 0.5% and maintained its target for asset purchases of 275 billion sterling on Thursday.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined to 390 thousand last week from 400 thousand the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. Economists expected the reading to advance to 401 thousand.
Lucas Papademos, the former vice president of the European Central Bank was named Thursday as the next Greek prime minister of a new interim government until early elections.
Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday, after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi vowed to step down. The Nikkei 225 advanced 1.15%, or 99.93 points, to 8,755.44, while the broader Topix extended 1.54%, or 11.37 points, to 749.40.
Swiss stocks closed lower on Wednesday as yields on Italian government bonds rose to a record, fuelling worries Europe's debt crisis is spreading. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, lost 1.32%, or 74.80 points, to 5,607.85. The broader Swiss Performance Index erased 1.35%, or 69.88 points, to 5,105.57.
U.K. trade balance widened to -ВЈ9.8 billion in September from -ВЈ8.6 billion in August, as imports surged while exports barely grew, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday. Economists expected trade balance to narrow to -ВЈ8.0 billion.
U.S. month on month wholesale inventories declined 0.1 percent in September for the first time since December 2009, said the Census Bureau on Wednesday. Economists expected the reading to advance 0.5 percent, after 0.1 percent increase in August.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi vowed to resign after Parliament agrees to pass austerity measures, as yields on government bonds rose to record highs, fueling worries the country may lose access to financial markets.
After LCH Clearnet SA increased deposit necessary for trading Italian bonds, 5-year bond yields jumped to 7.5%, exceeding those of 10-year bonds. PM Berlusconi's resignation offer left current government with tackling austerity measures in order to decrease costs of borrowing.
Japanese stocks declined on Tuesday amid uncertainty over the situation in Italy and after Olympus Corporation said it paid inflated fees to advisers to hide losses. The Nikkei 225 lost 1.27%, or 111.58 points, to 8,655.51, while the broader Topix decreased 1.66%, or 12.42 points, to 738.03.
Swiss stocks rose on Tuesday as investors expect Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to step down after he lost governing majority. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, advanced 0.65%, or 36.69 points, to 5,682.65. The broader Swiss Performance Index declined 0.62%, or 32.11 points, to 5,175.45.
Manufacturing output in U.K. advanced for the first month in four, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday. Output rose 0.2 percent in September, compared to August, when it decreased 0.3 percent.
An indicator of economic optimism edged higher to 40.6 in November from 40.3 in October said Investor's Business Daily and TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics on Tuesday. A reading above 50.0 indicates optimism; below 50.0 indicates pessimism.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi lost governing majority in a key vote on Tuesday, fueling calls for him to step down as the country risks to lose access to financial markets after yields on government bonds rose above 6 percent.
Bearing in mind Italy's high level of debt (EUR 1.9T) combined with near-zero growth rate, investors believe it could potentially become the next victim of sovereign debt crisis despite a rather low budget deficit. Meanwhile, European flagman Germany has reached EUR 15.3B trade balance in September amid forecast of 12.9B.
Japanese stocks declined on Monday amid uncertainty over the new government in Greece and rising yields in Italy. The Nikkei 225 lost 0.39%, or 34.31 points, to 8,767.09, while the broader Topix decreased 0.21%, or 1.57 points, to 750.45.
Swiss stocks declined on Monday amid concerns Italy is next to suffer from the debt crisis as the country's yields rose to record highs. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, declined 0.25%, or 13.87 points, to 5,645.96. The broader Swiss Performance Index slid 0.20%, or 10.31 points, to 5,143.34.