Japanese stocks rose on the first trading day of 2012 after a U.S. report showed manufacturing sector's growth is accelerating. The Nikkei 225 advanced 1.24%, or 104.76 points, to 8,560.11, while the broader Topix gained 1.97%, or 14.38, to 742.99.
Swiss stocks edged higher for a fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, rebounding from day's losses, after Germany and Portugal sold government securities.
U.K. stocks lost ground on Wednesday after soaring on Tuesday. The benchmark FTSE 100 index lost 0.55%, or 31.46 points, to 5,668.45. The FTSE All-Share Index shed 0.59%, or 17.23 points, to 2,906.40.
Retail sales at shops open more than a year may have increased 4.5 per cent in December, more than expected, as Americans pursued holiday discounts, said the International Council of Shopping Centers in a statement on Wednesday.
Inflation in the euro zone declined for the first time since summer 2011, giving the European Central Bank room for more action. The inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent in December from 3 per cent in November, said the European Statistical Office on Wednesday.
Japanese stocks edged higher on Friday amid hopes the U.S. economy is gaining steam. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.67%, or 56.46 points, to 8,455.35, while the broader Topix advanced 0.90%, or 6.49, to 728.61.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Tuesday after a report showed U.S. manufacturing sector accelerated at the fastest pace in half a year in December.
U.K. manufacturing sector contracted modestly in November, according to the data published by the Markit agency on Tuesday. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 49.6 in December from 47.7 in November. A reading below 50 signals contraction.
U.S. manufacturing activity accelerated in December, bolstered by growth in orders and production. The Institute for Supply Management's factory index rose to 53.9 in December from 52.7 in November, the company said on Tuesday. Reading above 50.0 indicates industry expansion.
Unemployment in Europe's largest economy decreased by 22 thousand people in December to a seasonally adjusted rate of 6.8 per cent, the lowest since 1991, said the Federal Statistical Office of Germany on Tuesday.
Japanese stocks gained on Friday led by signals the U.S. economy is recovering. The Nikkei 225 advanced 0.67%, or 56.46 points, to 8,455.35, while the broader Topix grew 0.90%, or 6.49, to 728.61.
The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, gained 0.67%, or 39.63 points, to 5,936.23. The broader Swiss Performance Index rose 0.64%, or 33.93 points, to 5,343.52.
The U.K. government plans to do more to help the economy recover, said Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday. It will also use the London Olympic Games to show what the country can achieve despite turbulent times.
U.S. stocks edged lower on the last trading day of 2011. Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 0.43%, or 5.42 points, to 1,257.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.57%, or 69.48 points, to 12,217.56. The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite fell 0.33%, or 8.59, to 2,605.15.
Spain's public deficit for 2012 may exceed initial estimate of 8 per cent of the gross domestic product, said the economy minister on Monday, fuelling concerns the economy faces a prolonged period of contraction.
Japanese stocks gained on Friday led by signals the U.S. economy is recovering. The Nikkei 225 advanced 0.67%, or 56.46 points, to 8,455.35, while the broader Topix grew 0.90%, or 6.49, to 728.61.
Swiss stocks closed higher on Friday after the Swiss National Bank said its foreign currency reserves increased.
U.K. month on month house prices edged lower 0.2% in December, said the Nationwide Building Society on Friday, as the debt crisis in Europe undermines consumer confidence and pushes up unemployment.
Rising consumer confidence, decrease in unemployment claims and better retail sales indicate the U.S. economy is gaining steam, despite hurdles in Europe and much of the rest of the world.
Spain's new conservative government announced Friday 8.9 billion euros ($11.54 billion) in austerity measures in 2012, with the budget shortfall of 8 per cent of gross domestic product, well above a target of 6 per cent.
Japanese stocks closed mixed on Thursday and Euro dropped to a 10-year low against the yen after the European Central Bank balance sheet increased to record 2.73 trillion euros. The Nikkei 225 shed 0.29%, or 24.73 points, to 8,398.89, while the broader Topix rose 0.09%, or 0.67, to 722.12.
Swiss stocks closed little changed on Thursday after Italian bond auction and amid low trading volume on the market.
U.K. stocks rose on Thursday on better-than-expected economic data from U.S. The benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 1.08%, or 59.37 points, to 5,566.77. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.98%, or 27.70 points, to 2,853.58.
More Americans applied for jobless benefits during the week ended December 24 than for the previous period. New applications for unemployment benefits rose for the first time in a month to 381 thousand in the week ended December 24, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. Economists expected the reading to increase to 372 thousand.