U.K. unemployment rose to 2.67 million or 8.4 per cent in January, according to the figures from the Office for National Statistics. The number of people claiming for unemployment benefits rose by 7,200 to 1.61 million in February.
Import prices rose in February led by higher petroleum costs, while food prices posted their largest decrease in three years. Overall import prices advanced 0.4 per cent.
Euro zone consumer prices rose in February, piling pressure on the ECB after it refrained from raising interest rates this month. The inflation rate rose 2.7 per cent from the same period last year, said the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) on Wednesday.
Bank of Japan rejected legislators' calls to boost asset purchases for a second consecutive month.
Swiss stocks gained for a fifth consecutive day after the euro area's finance chiefs approved a second bailout package for Greece.
U.K. trade deficit widened less than expected - to 7.5 billion pounds in January from 7.2 billion pounds in December, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.
U.S. month on month retail sales grew at a fastest pace in five months in February, suggesting the worlds largest economy is gaining steam even despite rising gasoline prices, said the Census Bureau on Tuesday. Total retail sales rose 1.1 per cent from January.
An index of German investor confidence rose to 22.3 in March, the highest level in more than 20 months, from 5.4 in February, said the ZEW Centre for European Economic Research on Tuesday. ZEW sentiment is based on a survey conducted among 350 German investors and analysts, who are asked to assess the six-month economic outlook.
Japanese core machinery orders rose more than expected in January, a sign the economy is picking up. Orders rose 3.4 per cent from December, said the Cabinet Office on Monday.
Swiss stocks closed little changed on Monday. Roche Holding AG rose 0.6 per cent. Basilea Pharmaceutica AG soared 4.7 per cent.
U.K. stocks were mostly flat on Monday.
U.S. stocks were flat on Monday.
Greece's successful bond swap deal should reassure markets about the nation's future, said Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Monday.
Japanese stocks rose for a second day on Friday as Greece pushed through the bond swap.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Friday after Greece reached its target for bondholder participation in the bond swap.
U.K. manufacturing output rose less than expected in January, said the Office for National Statistics on Thursday. Factory output gained 0.1 per cent from December, a sign the economy is still facing headwinds.
Employment grew for a third consecutive month in February, a sign the economic recovery is gaining momentum. Employers added 227,000 jobs to their payrolls, the Labor Department said on Friday, while the unemployment remained unchanged at 8.3 per cent.
Greece pushed through the bond swap offer averting the immediate threat of an uncontrolled default and opening the way for a second rescue package.
Japan's economy contracted less than the government's initial estimate in the fourth quarter, improving growth prospects. Gross domestic product fell 0.2 points from the previous three months, said the Cabinet Office on Thursday.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Thursday before deadline for Greece's debt swap.
Bank of England kept rates at 0.5 per cent and refrained from further monetary stimulus on Thursday, marking three years since rates were first cut to the record low.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits rose to 362 thousand in the week ended March 3 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
The European Central Bank kept rates on hold at 1.0 per cent on Thursday, pausing to assess potential inflation risks."Draghi may prepare the markets for the scenario that inflation won't come down below 2 percent in 2012," said Jens Sondergaard, chief European economist at Nomura International Plc in London.
Japanese stocks closed lower for a third consecutive day on Wednesday.