Swiss stocks edged higher for a third consecutive day to their highest level in six months on Wednesday as the International Monetary Fund announced its aim to boost lending resources by additional 500 billion dollars.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose by 1.2 thousand to 1.6 million in December and the unemployment rate increased to 8.4 per cent, the highest rate in 16 years, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.
The International Monetary Fund is aiming to increase its lending capacity by 500 billion dollars to protect economies from the escalating euro zone debt crisis.
Japanese stocks rose on Tuesday as investors shrugged off Standard & Poor's downgrade of nine euro zone countries, including France, Italy and Austria.
Swiss stocks advanced for a second day amid speculation that slowing economic growth in China may lead to an easing of monetary policy.
U.K. year on year inflation slowed in December to its weakest pace in six months, easing pressure on consumers. Consumer prices gained an annual 4.2 per cent, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.
New York region's manufacturing sector grew in January at the fastest pace since May 2011, reflecting improving sales, employment and orders.
Eurozone inflation eased more than expected in December, giving the European Central Bank more room to lower borrowing costs as the economy heads toward a recession.
Japan's machinery orders jumped in November, signalling that companies are ready to invest even as the global economy slows. Bookings rose 14.8 per cent from October, said the Cabinet Office on Monday.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Monday as French borrowing costs dropped at bond auction after Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's triple AAA credit rating one notch to AA+.
U.K. house prices edged lower in January amid record-high unemployment and slowing economic growth. Asking prices dropped 0.8 per cent to 224,060 pounds in January, said the Rightmove, the operator of Britain's largest property website on Monday.
U.S. retail industry expansion will contract to 3.4 per cent in 2012 from 4.7 per cent in 2011, hampered by difficult situation on the housing market, said the Washington-based National Retail Federation.
Standard & Poor's is incorrect to think the euro zone countries are excessively focused on budget austerity and the timing of its downgrades was "odd", said the European Commission on Monday.
Japanese stocks rose on Friday, after Spanish and Italian borrowing costs decreased, a sign investors are more optimistic on the economic outlook for the countries.
Swiss stocks closed lower on Friday on concern some euro area countries may be downgraded by Standard & Poor's in the next few days. These expectations were proven to be justified later that day.
U.K. producer output prices fell in December for the first time since June 2010, as input prices eased 0.6 per cent. Factory gate prices dropped 0.2 per cent from November, the Office for National Statistics announced on Friday.
U.S. consumer sentiment rose to eight-month high in January as Americans became more confident on the outlook for the economy. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment advanced to 74 from 69.9 at the end of the previous month.
The European Central Bank's 489 billion euros allotted among euro area banks at a record rate of one per cent are supporting the region's economy, said the ECB president on Thursday.
Japanese stocks dropped on Thursday, snapping two days of gains, as German economic data and weaker exporters added to worries the global economy is under strain.
Swiss stocks closed slightly higher on Thursday after Spain sold 9.98 billion euros of government bonds maturing in 2015 and 2016 and Italy sold 12 billion euros of Treasury bills, pushing yields lower.
U.K. industrial output decreased 0.6% in November, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday, intensifying worries over the strength of the economy.
U.S. month on month retail sales grew less than expected in December and jobless claims rose sharply, signalling the economic recovery remains shaky. Total retail sales rose 0.1 per cent after increasing 0.4 per cent in November, said the Census Bureau on Thursday. Economists expected sales to advance 0.3 per cent.
The European Central Bank kept its benchmark rate at record low of 1 per cent on Thursday, a move widely expected by economists, and noted a "significant, if not substantial," decrease in interest rates across markets.
Japanese stocks closed higher for a second consecutive day on Wednesday as strong U.S. employment data boosted the earning outlook for exporters.