"… machinery order drop is very large, and it may be a signal that Japanese companies are becoming cautious about investment"- Hiroaki Muto, a senior economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management|Japan's current account surplus for May narrowed to the lowest level in more than 20 years and month-on-month core machinery orders dropped 14.8 per cent, reports showed on Monday. Current
Swiss stocks extended losses on Monday.
U.K. house prices increased for a second month to an average of 162,417 pounds in June. Values increased 1 per cent from the previous month and were down 0.2 per cent compared to the same period the prior year, said the Lloyds Banking Group Plc Halifax mortgage-lending unit the previous week.
U.S. stocks retreated on Monday after Spanish bond yields rose above 7 per cent.
European stocks closed lower on Monday after yields on 10-year Spanish government bonds broke above seven per cent and a report showed Japan's core machinery orders tumbled.
Japanese stocks extended losses on Friday as rate cuts in Europe and China failed to restore investors' confidence.
Swiss stocks closed lower on Friday.
U.K. year-over-year producer prices rose 2.3 per cent in June, compared to the same period the previous year, the lowest rate since October 2009, said the Office for National Statistics on Friday.
The number of Americans who have found a job in June rose to 80,000 from 77,000 in May, said the Labor Department on Friday, significantly below a projected gain of 97,000. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.2 per cent.
German industrial production rose by more than expected in May, a sign that Europe's largest economy continues to outpace peers. Production increased 1.6 per cent in May, after declining 2.1 per cent the previous month, said the Economy Ministry on Friday.
The Bank of England extended its asset purchasing program by 50 billion pounds to 375 billion pounds on Thursday, citing deterioration of economic conditions. The bank also kept the key interest rate unchanged at 0.5 per cent.
Japanese stocks closed in red on Thursday ahead of ECB policy meeting.
Swiss stocks were little changed on Thursday.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined to 374,000 in the week ended June 30 from 386,000 the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
European central bank cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 0.75 per cent on Thursday to ease borrowing costs for struggling euro zone banks. It also lowered deposit rates to zero from 0.25 per cent.
Japanese stocks extended gains on Wednesday on hopes central banks in Europe and China will take action to promote growth.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Wednesday ahead of central bank policy meetings.
U.K. service sector barely grew in June, compared to May. The Markit/Cips services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 51.3 from 53.3 in May, said the Markit research agency on Wednesday. Reading above 50.0 indicates industry expansion.
U.S. banks were closed on Wednesday in observance of Independence Day.
Eurozone retail sales rose unexpectedly in May, but the trend remains sluggish. Retail sales in the 17-nation bloc advanced 0.6 per cent, after declining a negatively revised 1.4 per cent in April, said the European Statistics Office (Eurostat) on Wednesday.
Japanese stocks rose on Tuesday on expectations the Fed will ease policy and ECB will cut interest rates.
Swiss stocks closed in green on Tuesday after a report showed factory orders in the world's largest economy rose more than expected.
U.K. construction activity fell at the fastest pace for more than two years in June. The purchasing managers index for the industry retreated to 48.2 from 54.4 in May, showed a survey by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
New orders for U.S. factory orders advanced more than economists forecast in May. New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.7 per cent, said the Commerce Department on Tuesday.