The headline Markit Retail PMI for the Euro zone surged to 52.7 over the month of April from the 49.5-point reading observed in March, marking the steepest advance since mid-2015.
As reported by Reuters on Friday, Volkswagen has been targeting stable gains in productivity by cutting on costs and producing cars with higher margins in order to recover from the scandal related to emissions.
The Japanese Minister of Finance Taro Aso claimed on Friday that Xiao Jie, his counterpart in China, failed to attend a meeting that was scheduled between Finance ministers of the two countries and Korea due to "policy issues".
The British retailer Marks&Spencer has named Archie Norman as the new chairman, the company reported on Friday. His predecessor Robert Swannell retires on 1 September.
The latest Elabe poll demonstrates that the French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron is likely to win the election with 62% of the votes, in comparison to 38% for his opponent Marine Le Pen.
According to Reuters, US nonfarm payrolls and wages likely to increase in April, leading to a possible rise in interest rates in the following month. Full employment report at 1230GMT today.
Asian stocks traded lower on Friday, responding to concerns about the strength of the global economy. Chinese stocks were leading the fall amid unease over stricter financial regulations and lower oil prices.
Indonesia's Lippo Group reported that it would build a $21B centre near Jakarta that will include shopping centres, luxury hotels and universities.
ChemChina has won Syngenta shareholders' approval to acquire the company for $43B, the two firms reported on Friday.
Malaysian exports climbed 24.1% year-over-year in March, following the prior month's increase of 26.5% and surpassing expectations for a 19.2% rise, data released on Friday showed.
On Friday, the Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda expressed confidence that inflation would significantly accelerate amid massive monetary and fiscal stimulus.
According the RBNZ's survey published on Friday, the two-year annualised inflation rate is seen at 2.17%, up from 1.92%.
Oil prices dropped to five-month lows during the Asian session on Friday on concerns that the OPEC-led deal to limit production has failed.
Shanghai's housing regulator is set to launch a lottery system for controlling new homes sales in attempt to cool the market and curb speculation.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, is encouraged that an agreement to create safe zones in some areas of war-ravaged Syria was reached, the United Nations said.
Growth in home prices in Toronto is forced partly by speculation and is unsustainable, the Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz revealed.
South Korea, China, Japan agreed to confront protectionism, taking a stronger position than G20 main economies in opposition to the protectionist policies advocated by the US.
The US House of Representatives approved legislation to tighten sanctions concerning North Korea targeting companies that do business with the reclusive state.
Donald Tusk has called for "mutual respect" between Britain and the EU ahead of British elections in June, saying disagreements could make Bexit talks impossible.
Tesla shares have taken a dive, a day after the company posted a wider-than-expected loss, amid concerns that its upcoming Model 3 release is hurting sales of its Model S.
The US Republicans successfully pushed their prized health-care bill through the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, met the Foreign Ministers of Asia to seek their support on North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile tests.
Oil prices dropped on Thursday to their lowest level so far in 2017, with Brent breaking below $50, amid concerns of rising global supply and still high inventories.
The UK's looming talks with the European Union on leaving the bloc are set to become impossible if emotions remain unchecked, the EU Council President Donald Tusk said.