Japan posted its first current account surplus in four month in February, reflecting an improving outlook for an economic recovery in the world's third largest economy due to a depreciating Yen and unorthodox monetary-policy measures implemented by the BoJ.
Home prices in the U.K. advanced last month, and are likely to continue rising in the rest of the year, according to Halifax.
The overall unemployment rate in the world's largest economy reached a four-year low, due to a slump in the size of the labour force, while employers hired fewer workers than forecast in March, indicating the U.S. job market is struggling to make bigger strides.
The amount of money spent at retail outlets in the 17-nation economy slipped back in February, indicating weak domestic demand and adding to concerns that the currency bloc's recession extended into the first quarter.
The amount of money spent at Australian retail outlets surged four times faster than initially was expected, due to gains in household goods and department stores, as interest-rate reductions encouraged spending and consumers' confidence.
The Bank of Japan led by the newly-appointed Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, unleashed the world's most intense burst of monetary stimulus on Thursday, pledging to inject about $1.4 trillion into the struggling economy in less than two years, in order to revive growth.
During its monthly policy meeting, the Bank of England decided to keep its stimulus programme on hold, even despite a new remit that gives it extra leeway to disregard above-target inflation.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid unexpectedly jumped to a four-month high last week, suggesting some problems faced by the labour market, although the increase partly reflects seasonal distortions around the spring holidays.
The European Central Bank signalled that an interest-rate cut was rising up the bank's agenda on Thursday, if the economy deteriorates further, while officials are considering additional measures to boost growth in the region, as the debt crisis enters its fourth year.
Australian trade balance improved significantly in February, reaching the lowest level in more than a year, as exporters received higher prices for their commodities, while imports declined.
The newly-appointed Governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, is struggling to build a consensus ahead of his first central bank board meeting on April 3-4, adding to concerns that markets may be disappointed as they expect hefty bond purchases and a radical shift in its policymaking framework.
Britain's construction output shrank for the fifth consecutive month in March, as the industry suffered from bad weather and poor demand, Markit Economics said Wednesday.
The pace of growth in the services sector of the United States economy slowed in March, reaching the lowest level in seven months, as the number of new orders and employment cooled in the biggest part of the economy.
Price pressure in the 17-nation economy eased further last month, as steeper price increases for services offset an easing in energy costs, the European Union's statistics office said Wednesday.
Switzerland's key manufacturing output index contracted in March, as a slight appreciation in the Swiss Franc and renewed weakness in the Eurozone dragged on demand.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has for the first time suggested the possibility that the Japanese economy could struggle to achieve the ambitious target of 2% inflation within two years in case the global economy will continue decelerating.
Britain's manufacturing output shrank for the second consecutive month, as lacklustre demand at factories weighed on economic growth, the Markit Economics said Tuesday.
The number of new factory orders in the world's largest economy improved significantly in February, posting the strongest gain in 5 months, boosted by aircraft, even as the business spending indicator dropped, pointing to a mixed picture of the nation's manufacturing sector.
The number of unemployed people in the 17-nation Euro area soared to a fresh high in the beginning of 2013, adding to concerns that the currency bloc's recession extended into the first quarter.
Sentiment among Japanese manufacturers improved last month, however, less than initially was predicted, putting more pressure on the Bank of Japan.
During its monthly policy meeting the Bank of England is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate and the amount of its asset-purchase programme unchanged, even as the economy is facing the risks of falling into another recession.
The pace of expansion in the manufacturing sector slowed last month, due to the contraction in the number of new orders, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.
Manufacturing output in Greece tumbled once again in March as new orders shrank, with the impact of the crisis in neighbouring Cyprus yet to take its toll on the local economy, a survey by Markit Economics showed on Monday.
Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expected to receive a short list of candidates for a position of the Bank of Canada Governor, as current Governor Marc Carney will step out on June 1 to take over the Bank of England.