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.
Swiss stocks edged lower on Wednesday after Fitch called the European Central Bank to boost its government bond purchases to ease strains in financial markets.
U.K. trade deficit widened more than expected to £8.6 billion in November from £7.9 billion in October, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday. Economists had forecast the deficit of no more than £8.3 billion.
The U.S. Federal Reserve should keep interest rates near zero to combat high unemployment and help the economy to recover, said Fed's top official on Wednesday.
The European Central Bank should boost its bond purchasing programme to support the third largest euro zone economy, Italy, and avert a "cataclysmic" collapse of the euro, said David Riley, the head of sovereign ratings at Fitch, on Wednesday.
U.S. month-on-month wholesale inventories barely grew in November, suggesting the economy is recovering at a moderate pace. Inventories rose 0.1 per cent after increasing 1.2 per cent in October, said the Commerce Department on Tuesday.
Japanese stocks closed higher on Tuesday, snapping two days of losses after the U.S. economy added more jobs than it was expected and unemployment fell to 8.5 per cent in December.
Swiss stocks closed higher for the first time in four days as a meeting of German Chancellor Angela Merkel with International Monetary Fund Chief Christine Lagarde boosted optimism that law makers are searching for new solutions to solve the sovereign debt crisis.
U.K. retail sector expanded in December 2011, compared to the same period last year as retailers offered generous discounts to lure shoppers. Retails sales rose 2.2 per cent, after declining 1.6 per cent the previous year, said the British Retail Consortium on Tuesday.
Fitch Ratings does not plan to downgrade France's top notch AAA credit rating in 2012, while ratings of Spain and Italy as well as other countries under review could be cut by one or two notches this year, said Ed Parker, head of EMEA sovereign ratings at Fitch on Tuesday.
Japanese stocks dropped on Friday as pessimism over Europe's economic prospects outweighed strong data from U.S. The Nikkei 225 lost 1.16%, or 98.36 points, to 8,390.35, while the broader Topix shed 0.91%, or 6.68, to 729.60.
Swiss stocks dropped for a third consecutive day on Monday as the Swiss National Bank President Philipp Hildebrand resigned after a scandal involving a controversial currency trade made by his wife.
U.K. luxury-home prices rose 0.8 per cent for a 14th consecutive month in December, said the Knight Frank LLP, as overseas buyers turned to safe haven assets and competed for a smaller number of properties for sale.
U.S. corporations, such as Cisco Systems Inc., ended 2011 with the slowest profit growth in two years amid global economic slowdown, estimated Bloomberg analysts.
German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy met on Monday to discuss how to promote Europe's economic growth and to finalize a deal on deeper fiscal union.
Japanese stocks dropped on Friday as pessimism over Europe's economic prospects outweighed strong data from U.S. The Nikkei 225 lost 1.16%, or 98.36 points, to 8,390.35, while the broader Topix shed 0.91%, or 6.68, to 729.60.