Sales of new U.S. homes rose by more than expected in April, Commerce Department data showed on Wednesday.
European stocks tumbled on Wednesday, after rising by the most in a month on Tuesday, on speculation Greece may exit the euro zone.
Fitch credit rating agency cut Japan's local currency credit rating by one notch to A plus with a negative outlook from AA minus. It also lowered long-term foreign currency rating to A plus from AA.
Swiss stocks rose on Tuesday after a report showed existing home sales in the world's largest economy rose for the first time in three months.
Inflation in the U.K. eased by more than forecast in April, giving the Bank of England slightly more room for action. Year-on-year inflation rate fell to 3 per cent in April from 3.5 per cent in March, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.
U.S. existing home sales rose in April to an annual rate of 4.62 million from 4.47 million in March, said the National Association of Realtors.
European stocks rose by the most in a month on Tuesday.
Japanese stocks closed mixed on Monday.
Swiss stocks rose on Monday on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's pledge to focus more on bolstering growth.
U.K. national house prices stagnated in March, announced the Rightmove Plc, owner of the U.K.'s largest residential property Web site, on Monday. London house values rose 0.9 per cent from April to an average of 469,314 pounds as investors search for a safe haven from the debt crisis.
U.S. equity market edged higher on Monday on China stimulus hopes and after German and French officials said they would cooperate to keep Greece in the monetary union.
European stocks edged higher on Monday on China's pledge to boost growth.
Following gradual expansion of exports and increase of private consumption, Japan's government improved the outlook, expecting further improvement of economic conditions, as recently suggested by accelerating advancement of the gross domestic product.
David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, believes that breaking down trade barriers would be the best catalyst for the global economic recovery. The prime minister will encourage trade negotiations between the EU and the US.
Swiss stocks fell, heading for their biggest weekly drop since November, as industrial goods and services companies slumped amid signs of slowing growth in China and as Moody's Investors Service downgraded Spanish lenders.
Fed policymakers might potentially launch another round of Operation Twist rather than a direct asset purchases in case of increased risks or further weakening of the US economy. On April 25 Ben Bernanke announced he was ready to implement further actions for economy's stimulation in case of such necessity. However, the Fed head does not see any need for immediate
European stocks edged lower after Fitch downgraded Greece's credit rating to ‘CCC', implying that the country is vulnerable and highly dependent on favourable economic conditions to fulfill its financial obligations. Meanwhile, Moody's cut ratings of 16 Spanish banks and put 10 banks on negative credit watch. The benchmark Stoxx 600 lost 1% while Germany's DAX and France's CAC tumbled by
Following stagnation of the GDP during the previous year, Japan's leading indicator has advanced by 1% in the first quarter of 2012, as a result of steadfast personal spending, growth of exports and gradual healing of regions, affected by devastating natural disaster.
Swiss investor confidence fell for the first time since December, ending a 4-month rally and intensifying concerns that the economic recovery is stalling.
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron is determined to continue implementing his austerity plan to protect the British economy from the Eurozone debt crisis contagion. The prime minister refused the initiative of the opposition Labour Party to ease his deficit-reduction plan.
Latest US initial unemployment claim data was released yesterday – 370 000 Americans demanded their jobless benefits last week versus a 368 000 consensus forecast. The Labor Department revised the previous reading up to 370 000 from 368 000. EUR/USD gained 30 pips after the news release, but the increase was soon erased by a bearish correction.
Spain sold the maximum targeted amount of debt, 2.5 billion euros, during yesterday's auction with spiking borrowing costs. The interest rate of three-year bonds rose to 4.373% from April's figure of 2.89% while interest rate of five-year bonds surged to 5.106% from 3.374 in March. Meanwhile, yields of 10-year sovereign debt approached 6.334%, the level close to 7% that forced
Japanese stocks added to losses Wednesday on Greek political impasse.
Swiss stocks closed higher on Wednesday amid Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA surprising the market with better than predicted earnings.