U.S. trade deficit widened to a six-month high of $48.8 billion in December, up by $1.7 billion compared to November, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced on Friday.
Leaders of Greece's governing coalition rejected German demands for additional austerity measures hours after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told legislators in Berlin that the nation was missing deficit targets.
Japan's machinery orders tumbled in December as the debt crisis in Europe and strong yen dimmed the outlook for exporters. Month-on-month bookings fell 7.1 per cent in December, after surging 15 per cent in November, said the Cabinet Office on Thursday.
Swiss stocks rose on Thursday after Greek politicians agreed on austerity measures to secure a second bailout.
The Bank of England injected another 50 billion pounds into the U.K. economy and maintained key lending rate at record low of 0.5 per cent to protect fragile economic recovery.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment insurance payments fell to 358 thousand last week from 373 thousand in the week ended January 31, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
Greece leaders Thursday agreed a deal on reforms and austerity measures in return for a 130 billion euro bailout from international lenders which will help the country to avoid a messy default.
Japan's current account surplus shrank sharply in 2011 to its smallest value in 15 years, as exports weakened, being disrupted by the March earthquake and the Thai floods and energy imports soared after shutdown of nuclear plants.
Swiss unemployment remained unchanged in January, said the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs on Wednesday. Jobless rate was at 3.1 per cent, the same as in December.
U.K. shop price inflation fell to 1.4% in January from 1.7% in December, the British Retail Consortium announced on Wednesday. Food inflation declined to 3.7 per cent from 4.2 per cent in December. Non-flood inflation eased to zero from 0.3 per cent in the last month of 2011.
U.S. stocks closed positive on Wednesday while investors awaited the outcome of negotiations between Greece and the troika.
Greece leaders gathered on Wednesday to agree on a reform deal in return for a 130 billion euro bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Japanese stock indexes ended mixed on Tuesday after Japan Tobacco Inc. raised its earnings forecast and Greece struggled to secure a €130 billion international bailout.
Swiss stocks rose modestly on Tuesday. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, advanced 0.17%, or 10.56 points, to 6,157.59. The broader Swiss Performance Index added 0.17%, or 9.47 points, to 5,585.07.
U.K. retail sector contracted in January as shoppers limited their spending ahead of a difficult year. Retails sales dropped 0.3 per cent in January from the same period last year when they rose 2.2 per cent, the British Retail Consortium announced on Tuesday.
U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of discussion on a financial aid package for Greece.
Greece's government is preparing a final version of an agreement on budget and structural measures required for a 130 billion euro bailout, said a Greek government official.
Japanese stocks rose on Monday after U.S. companies created more jobs than expected in January and Nikon Corp. together with Oki Electric Industry Co. raised profit forecasts.
Swiss stocks dropped on Monday. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, declined 0.10%, or 6.28 points, to 6,147.03. The broader Swiss Performance Index shed 0.08%, or 4.31 points, to 5,575.60.
U.K. house prices rose 0.6% to £160,907 in January, for the first time in three months, said the Halifax, the mortgage unit of Lloyds Banking Group Plc on Monday.
U.S. stocks declined on Monday, snapping a three-day winning streak, after the meeting of euro zone ministers was postponed because of Greek reluctance to commit to reforms.
German factory orders increased more than expected in December as demand from overseas helped the euro zone's largest economy to weather the debt crisis. Orders rose 1.7 per cent, after declining 4.9 per cent in November, said the Economy Ministry on Monday.
The number of Americans, who have found a job in January rose to nine-month high of 243,000, said the Labor Department on Friday, pushing unemployment rate lower to 8.3 per cent, the lowest in three years.
Euro zone retail sales declined unexpectedly in December, said the European Union's statistics office Eurostat on Friday. Retail sales fell 0.4 per cent from November after declining by the same amount in October.