Swiss stocks rose for a fourth day in five on Friday.
U.S. consumer confidence rose to the highest level in five years in May as consumers became more optimistic on the outlook of the country's economy. The Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan index of sentiment rose to 79.3 from 77.8 in April.
German consumer confidence stagnated in May as consumers remained cautiously confident about German economic prospects, said GfK, one of the world's leading market research companies.
Japanese stocks gained on Thursday on speculation they are undervalued.
Swiss stocks rose for a third day in four on Thursday.
The U.K. economy shrank by more than expected in the first quarter of the year, revised figures have shown. Gross domestic product fell 0.3 per cent from a revised drop of 0.2 per cent, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined slightly by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 370,000 in the week ended May 19 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
European manufacturing and services industries contracted in May. A composite index based on a survey of purchasing managers in manufacturing and services sectors declined to 45.9 from 46.7 in April, said the Markit Economics on Thursday.
Japan's trade deficit widened in April, as energy imports rose and exports of plastic and steel fell. Trade deficit came at 520.3 billion yen, said the Japan's Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.
Swiss stocks edged lower on Wednesday, snapping two days of gains, on Greek exit concern.
U.K. retails sales declined by the most since 2010 in April on fall in petrol sales and bad weather. Sales edged lower by 2.3 from March, said the Office for National Statistics.
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.