American employers added considerably more jobs in May than expected, according to the Labor Department, alleviating worries about the US economy's momentum following a stretch of tepid growth earlier this year.
German factory orders rose for a second month in a row in April, the Economics Ministry said.
Euro zoneFor the first time this year, consumer prices across the 19-country currency bloc edged higher, easing fears that the Euro zone is set for a prolonged Japan-style era of deflation. Consumer prices across the Euro bloc climbed 0.3% last month from the year before, with energy prices becoming less of a drag. More surprisingly, core inflation, which excludes volatile
Purchasing activity in Canada unexpectedly accelerated last month, with the corresponding gauge jumping above the 62.0 level.
Australia's retail sales remained unchanged in April from March, against economists' expectations for a 0.3% gain.
The Bank of England decided to keep its benchmark interest rate at 0.5%, unchanged at the lowest level since 2009. All of the nine MPC's members voted unanimously to hold the UK interest rate in order to wait for recovery rebound.
The number of Americans, who sought unemployment benefits last week, dropped, a sign that job cuts stay low as employers remain confident enough in the business outlook to keep their personnel.
The Greek government decided to postpone its June 5 payment to the International Monetary Fund, becoming the first country to delay a payment to the international lender of last resort since the 1980s.
Canada logged near record trade deficit in April, when both imports and exports dropped in another sign of challenges facing the economy, Statistics Canada data showed.
Some upbeat signs emerged from China's services sector, where activity expanded briskly in May.
Activity growth in the UK economy's engine, the services sector, slowed, questioning the economy's ability to recover from a soft start to the year.
The world's biggest economy created more private sector jobs in May compared with the preceding month and overshot analysts' expectations, according to the latest ADP report.
The European Central Bank left its benchmark rates unchanged at their all-time lows for already the seventh consecutive rate-setting meeting.
Australia's gross domestic product grew more than expected in the first quarter, as a pick-up in mining export volumes, household spending and retail stock managed to offset sluggish investment.
UK construction sector recovered in May from the lowest level in almost two years in April.
US factory orders plunged in April, adding to signs that manufacturers are struggling amid a stronger Greenback and cheaper oil. Orders dropped 0.4% in April, marking the eighth decrease in nine months, the Commerce Department reported.
For the first time this year, consumer prices across the 19-country currency bloc edged higher, easing fears that the Euro zone is set for a prolonged Japan-style era of deflation.
The Reserve Bank of Australia decided to keep interest rates unchanged, in line with analysts' expectations, opting to hold rather than risk further fuelling house price inflation in Sydney.
UK manufacturing activity rebounded in May after sliding to the lowest level in seven months in April, but strong domestic demand was largely offset by sluggish exports.
US manufacturing activity growth accelerated in May for the first time in six months, supported by more new orders as well as an increase in hiring.
Spanish and Italian factories led a pick-up in the Euro zone manufacturing activity in May, while German consumer inflation climbed at the fastest pace in eight months as the European Central Bank's new stimulus programme yielded early results.
After announcing an acceleration of money printing to boost bond buying before liquidity dries up during Europe's summer vacation period in July and August, the ECB slowed its weekly pace of purchases.
New Zealand business confidence plunged this month, with the annual Budget release being the major reason behind the worsening mood.
Canada's economy unexpectedly shrank in the first quarter, marking the first contraction in four years and the largest since the 2009 recession as falling energy prices caused a plunge in business investment.