The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits tumbled to 366 thousand last week from 385 thousand the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. Economists expected the reading to increase to 389 thousand.
Spain sold €6.03 billion of debt on Thursday, more than initially expected and at a lower rate compared to Italy, easing concerns the country may lose access to financial markets next year.
Japanese stocks declined on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve fell short of presenting new measures to promote economic growth. The Nikkei 225 declined 0.39%, or 33.68 points, to 8,519.13, while the broader Topix lost 0.50%, or 3.73, to 736.98.
Swiss stocks closed lower on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve offered no additional stimulus to spur economic growth.The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, declined 0.71%, or 40.63 points, to 5,719.09. The broader Swiss Performance Index shed 0.96%, or 50.08 points, to 5,151.77.
U.K. unemployment rose by 128 thousand to 2.64 million in three months to October, the highest level in 17 years, adding to concerns the country is heading towards a recession. Jobless rate jumped to 8.3 percent from 7.9 percent in the previous quarter, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.
U.S. month on month import prices rose at a moderate pace in November for the first time in four months, indicating inflation will remain contained. Prices of imported goods rose 0.7 percent after falling 0.5 percent in October, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.
Italy's five-year borrowing costs rose to record in a bond auction on Wednesday, adding pressure on Italian government to take decisive action against the crisis after last week's summit failed to restore investor confidence. Five-year debt was trading 6.81% at the end of the trading session.
Japanese stocks declined on Tuesday after rating companies said last week's summit did little to resolve the debt crisis. The Nikkei 225 shed 1.17%, or 101.01 points, to 8,552.81, while the broader Topix lost 0.80%, or 5.98, to 740.71.
Swiss stocks rose on Tuesday after German investor confidence unexpectedly improved in December for the first time in 10 months, easing concerns about Europe's largest economy.
U.K. inflation eased for a second consecutive month in November, helped by lower food, transportation and clothing costs. Consumer prices rose 4.8 percent compared with the same period last year, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.
U.S. month on month retail sales grew less than expected in November, said the Census Bureau on Tuesday. Total retail sales rose 0.2 percent the previous month after increasing 0.6 percent in October. Economists expected the reading to advance 0.6 percent.
All European Union member countries apart from Britain will sign a treaty on deeper fiscal integration within the block by March, said European Council President Van Rompuy on Tuesday, as the union strives to restore investor confidence.
Japanese wholesale prices increased more than expected in November due to higher energy costs, but strong yen and sluggish domestic demand suggest the nation's economy will continue to struggle with deflation.
Swiss stocks declined on Monday after Moody's Investors Service hinted that last week's agreement between EU member states failed to introduce fundamental measures to combat the crisis.
U.K. housing market will remain broadly unchanged through 2012 on weak demand and shortage of supply, said Monday mortgage lender Halifax, a unit of Lloyds Banking Group.
U.S. stocks closed lower on Monday after Moody's Investors Service said it will still review ratings of EU member countries in the first months of 2012, despite EU agreement on deeper fiscal union.
Moody's Investors Service said it still plans to review EU member countries' credit ratings in the first quarter 2012, hinting that last week's agreement between 26 nations failed to deliver "decisive policy measures" to combat the debt crisis.
Japan's gross domestic product rose less than expected in the third quarter 2011, said the Cabinet Office on Friday. Specifically, economy grew moderate 1.4 percent amid sluggish global economic recovery and strong yen.
Swiss stock rose on Friday after 26 EU member countries agreed to sign a new treaty aimed at deeper fiscal union and to provide 200 billion euro to the International Monetary Fund.
U.K. trade deficit narrowed by biggest amount in more than a decade to ВЈ7.6 billion in October from ВЈ10.2 billion in September, said the Office for National Statistics on Friday. Economists expected the reading to improve to ВЈ9.5 billion.
U.S. consumer confidence rose to highest level in six months in December as consumers became more optimistic on the outlook of the country's economy, according to the Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan research. An index of sentiment rose to 67.7 points this month from 64.1 in November.
All European Union countries except Britain agreed to sign an intergovernmental treaty Friday aimed at stricter budget discipline in the single currency area. The deal was welcomed by the ECB President Mario Draghi: "It is a very good outcome for euro area members and it's going to be the basis for a good fiscal compact and more disciplined economic policy
Japan's machinery orders decreased for the second straight month in October amid slowing global economy and strong Yen. Bookings declined 6.9 percent in October after sliding 8.2 percent in September, said the Cabinet Office on Thursday.
Swiss stock declined on Thursday after the European Central Bank's President Mario Draghi rejected speculations that the bank will step up bond purchases.