Japanese stocks declined on Thursday, as European and U.S. data added to signs the global economic outlook is deteriorating.
Swiss stocks edged lower for the first time in a week on Thursday as the Swiss National Bank said Credit Suisse Group AG and UBS AG need to raise additional capital this year.
U.K. stocks declined on Thursday.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits rose to 386,000 in the week ended June 9 from 377,000 the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
Yields on 10-year Spanish government securities rose on Thursday to the highest level since the creation of the single currency union. Yields climbed to 6.91 per cent at the close of the trading session.
Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday after a report showed nation's machinery orders rose more than expected.
Swiss stocks added to gains on Wednesday.
U.K. stocks closed slightly higher on Wednesday.
U.S. month on month retail sales fell in May, said the Census Bureau on Wednesday. Sales declined 0.2 per cent after erasing another 0.2 per cent in April, a sign the economy is cooling.
Eurozone industrial production contracted for a second straight month in April, adding to signs the economic slump is deepening. Output declined 0.8 per cent from March, said the European Union's statistics office on Wednesday.
Japanese stocks lost ground on Tuesday after yields on Spanish bonds spiked.
Swiss stocks added to gains on Tuesday, as the government raised its economic growth forecast.
U.K. manufacturing production contracted by more than expected in April, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday. Factory output declined 0.7 per cent from March, a sign the economy has weakened at the beginning of the second quarter.
U.S. import prices tumbled by the most in more than a year in May, said the Labor Department on Tuesday. Prices fell 1.00 per cent from April, reflecting lower costs for food and fuel.
Spanish bond yields rose on Tuesday to the highest level since the introduction of the single currency on concern the nation will miss budget deficit targets for 2012/2013 and 100 billion euro bailout is not enough to stabilize the banking sector.
Japanese stocks gained by the most in more than a month on Monday on speculation an aid for Spain will ease the debt crisis in Europe.
Swiss stocks were little changed on Monday after Spain asked for 100 billion euros to bailout its banking system.
U.K. stocks closed in negative territory on Monday after EU agreed on a bailout for Spain.
U.S. stocks closed in red on Monday.
French factory output contracted 0.7 per cent in April, said Paris-based statistics office Insee on Monday, adding to signs the economy is moving sideways.
Japan's current account surplus shrunk in April, adding to signs global demand is cooling. Surplus contracted to 333.8 billion yen, said the Ministry of Finance on Friday.
Swiss stocks were little changed on Friday.
U.K. producer prices retreated in May on lower petroleum costs. Factory-output prices declined 0.2 per cent from April, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday.
U.S. trade deficit narrowed to 50.1 billion dollars in April from 52.6 billion dollars in March, Commerce Department figures showed on Friday.