Swiss stocks ended Monday's session lower after manufacturing in the euro zone contracted more than forecast.
U.K. stocks declined sharply on Monday after manufacturing in the single currency bloc contracted by more than expected in April.
U.S. stocks declined after data showed that manufacturing contracted in the euro zone.
The euro zone's manufacturing contracted in April, a sign the economy is far from out of the woods. The purchasing managers index declined to 47.9 from 49.2 in March, Markit data showed on Monday. Reading below 50.0 indicates industry contraction.
Japanese stocks fell on Friday after U.S. economic data showed the recovery in the world's largest economy is losing momentum.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Friday after German business confidence rose and U.S. companies reported better than expected earnings.
U.K. month on month retail sales rose more than economists forecast in March, said the Office for National Statistics on Friday. Total retail sales rose 1.8 per cent from February, when they declined 0.8 per cent.
U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday while German investor confidence unexpectedly improved and blue chip companies from General Electrics to Microsoft reported better than expected earnings.
German business confidence unexpectedly improved in April, a sign the euro zone's largest economy is weathering Europe's debt crisis. Ifo business climate index, which is based on a survey of 7,000 businesses, rose to 109.9 points from 109.8 points in March.
U.K. claims for unemployment benefits rose less than expected and unemployment declined, signs that the economy is stabilizing. Claims increased by 3,600 in March to 1.61 million, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.
Japanese exports surged 5.9 per cent in March, compared to the same period last year, said the Ministry of Finance on Thursday. The trade deficit for March was 82.6 billion yen, less than economists forecast of 223.2 billion yen.
Swiss stocks edged higher after Spain scraped through a key bond auction on Thursday.
U.K. stocks were little changed on Thursday.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined by 2,000 to 386,000 in the week ended April 14 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
Spain sold 2.54 billion euros of debt dated 2014 and 2022 on Thursday, above the target range of 1.5 to 2.5 billion euros for the auction.
The seasonally adjusted current account of the euro zone swung a deficit of EUR1.3 billion in February from a surplus of EUR3.7 billion in January, said the European Central Bank on Wednesday.
Japanese stocks surged on Wednesday, after the International Monetary Fund raised its global economic forecast and Spain sold more debt than its target.
Swiss stocks edged lower on Wednesday, led by a decline in banking shares. UBS lost 2.6 per cent and Credit Suisse fell 1.6 per cent.
U.S. stocks fell after Intel Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. disappointed market participants with their quarterly results.
Japanese stocks were little changed on Tuesday.
Swiss stocks gained on Tuesday after Spain sold more debt than it had targeted.
U.K. inflation accelerated in March for the first time in half a year, driven by higher food prices. Consumer prices increased 3.5 per cent, compared to the same period last year, said the European Statistical Office on Tuesday.
U.S. housing starts fell in March but building permits rose to highest level since 2009, Commerce Department data showed on Tuesday. Groundbreakings declined to an annual rate of 0.65 million, while permits advanced to 0.75 million.
An index of German investor confidence unexpectedly rose to 23.4 in April from 22.3 in March, said the ZEW Centre for European Economic Research on Tuesday. ZEW sentiment is based on a survey conducted among 350 German investors and analysts, who are asked to rate the six-month economic outlook.