Japanese stocks rose for the first time in four days on Wednesday.
Swiss stocks extended gains on Wednesday after a report showed durable goods orders in the world's largest economy rose more than economists forecast.
Retail sales in the U.K. rose in June boosted by the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, said the Confederation of British Industry on Wednesday. The index measuring sales rose to 42 from 21 in May. Above 0 indicates higher sales volume, below indicates lower.
U.S. durable goods orders rose in May for the first time in three months, easing concern the economy is deteriorating. Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years increased 1.1 per cent, said the Commerce Department on Wednesday.
European stocks closed in green on Wednesday after a report showed U.S. durable goods orders rose by more than expected in May and on speculation that China will introduce additional economic stimulus.
Japanese stocks extended losses on Tuesday after Japan's policy makers voted in favour of a bill to double the consumption tax to 10 per cent.
Swiss stocks gained slightly on Tuesday.
British public sector borrowing rose by more than expected in May, said the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday. Net borrowing came in at 15.6 billion pounds, a rise of almost eight per cent from the same period the previous year.
U.S. house prices rose in April for a third consecutive month, the latest sign the housing market is recovering. The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas rose 0.7 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis.
A group of European officials on Tuesday proposed a series of adjustments to the single currency bloc which will be discussed at EU summit on Thursday. The measures range from allowing a central European authority to override national budgets to the issuing of common euro zone bonds.
Japanese stocks slid on Monday.
Swiss stocks extended losses on Monday.
U.K. stocks declined for a third consecutive day on Monday as investors awaited a European summit later this week.
Sales of new U.S. homes rose by more than expected in May as mortgage rates dropped. Purchases climbed to 369,000 in May, the highest level in more than two years and up by 7.6 per cent from the previous month, said the Commerce Department on Monday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected common euro-area bonds before a summit of European leaders this week. Merkel said debt sharing would be "economically wrong and counterproductive".
German business confidence fell by more than expected in June, reinforcing fears that the euro zone's largest economy is slowing. Ifo business climate index, which is based on a survey of 7,000 businesses, slid to 105.3 points from 106.9 points in May. "The German economy is slowing despite extremely accommodative interest rates and recent wage growth," said Annamaria Grimaldi, an economist at Intesa Sanpaolo SpA in
Japanese stocks lost ground on Friday after a report showed sales of previously owned homes in the world's largest economy declined by more than expected.
Swiss stocks retreated on Friday. The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, erased 0.10%, or 5.72 points, to 6,012.19. The broader Swiss Performance Index fell 0.17%, or 9.26 points, to 5,594.09.
U.K. industrial order expectations improved by more than expected in June, official data showed. An index measuring order expectations rose to minus 11 from minus 17 in May, the Confederation of British Industry said the previous week.
Manufacturing in the Philadelphia region contracted in June, a sign the economy is slowing. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's general economic index declined to minus 16.6 in June, the lowest level since August, from minus 5.8 in May.
Japan's trade deficit widened by more than expected in May on increased fuel imports, while exports surged 10 per cent, easing concerns the Japanese economy is slowing. Deficit came in at 907.3 billion Yen, said the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.
Swiss stocks declined on Wednesday, snapping a three-day winning streak, after a report showed investor confidence fell to the lowest level since January.
U.K. unemployment fell by 51,000 to 2.61 million in three months to April, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday. The number of people claiming for unemployment benefits rose by 8,100 to 1.60 million in May from April.
The Federal Reserve extended its monetary stimulus Wednesday in an effort to push borrowing costs lower by buying 267 billion dollars in long-term government securities.