Swiss stocks closed higher on Friday after the Swiss National Bank said its foreign currency reserves increased.
U.K. month on month house prices edged lower 0.2% in December, said the Nationwide Building Society on Friday, as the debt crisis in Europe undermines consumer confidence and pushes up unemployment.
Rising consumer confidence, decrease in unemployment claims and better retail sales indicate the U.S. economy is gaining steam, despite hurdles in Europe and much of the rest of the world.
Spain's new conservative government announced Friday 8.9 billion euros ($11.54 billion) in austerity measures in 2012, with the budget shortfall of 8 per cent of gross domestic product, well above a target of 6 per cent.
Japanese stocks closed mixed on Thursday and Euro dropped to a 10-year low against the yen after the European Central Bank balance sheet increased to record 2.73 trillion euros. The Nikkei 225 shed 0.29%, or 24.73 points, to 8,398.89, while the broader Topix rose 0.09%, or 0.67, to 722.12.
Swiss stocks closed little changed on Thursday after Italian bond auction and amid low trading volume on the market.
U.K. stocks rose on Thursday on better-than-expected economic data from U.S. The benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 1.08%, or 59.37 points, to 5,566.77. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.98%, or 27.70 points, to 2,853.58.
More Americans applied for jobless benefits during the week ended December 24 than for the previous period. New applications for unemployment benefits rose for the first time in a month to 381 thousand in the week ended December 24, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. Economists expected the reading to increase to 372 thousand.
Italy sold almost 20 billion of debt during this week, pushing yields on government securities lower but failing to reassure investors over the nation's ability to raise finance in the markets next year.
Japan's industrial output tumbled 2.3% in November, compared to the previous month, said the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Wednesday. Economists expected the reading to drop by 0.7 per cent.
The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, rose 0.14%, or 8.34 points, to 5,895.25. The broader Swiss Performance Index gained 0.05%, or 2.80 points, to 5,304.90.
The U.K. job market faces "slow, painful contraction", said the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in a report, adding the number of employed people is likely to decrease by 120,000 in 2012.
U.S. retail sales rose 4.5 per cent for the week ended December 24, compared to the same period last year as shops offered discounts to lure consumers, said the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on Wednesday.
Italy raised 9 billion euros in an auction on Wednesday, more than expected, benefiting from lower yields as Rome's recent austerity measures and the ECB long-term refinancing operation have helped to ease strains in the market.
Japanese stocks dropped on Tuesday amid slow holiday trading. The Nikkei 225 lost 0.46%, or 38.78 points, to 8,440.56, while the broader Topix fell 0.30%, or 2.19, to 724.25.
Swiss stocks snapped a five-day rally on Tuesday after S&P/CS report showed U.S. house prices fell more than expected.The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, shed 0.12%, or 6.98 points, to 5,886.91. The broader Swiss Performance Index edged lower 0.13%, or 6.85 points, to 5,302.10.
U.K. stocks rose on Friday amid better than expected economic data from the world's largest economy. The benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 1.02%, or 55.73 points, to 5,512.70. The FTSE All-Share Index edged higher 0.98%, or 27.48 points, to 2,827.09.
U.S. consumer confidence rose to an eight month high in December as consumers became more optimistic on the outlook of the country's economy, the Conference Board Inc. said on Tuesday. An index of sentiment increased to 64.5 from 55.2 in November.
Italian government bonds fell on Tuesday, pushing three-year and ten-year yields higher before an auction on Thursday, where Rome plans to sell 8.5 billion of debt, as investors are worried the euro zone's third-largest economy may lose access to financial markets.
Japanese stocks edged higher on Monday after the U.S. Congress passed payroll tax extension. The Nikkei 225 gained 1.00%, or 84.18 points, to 8,479.34, while the broader Topix advanced 0.46%, or 3.32, to 726.44.
U.K. stocks rose on Friday amid better-than-expected economic data from the world's largest economy. The benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 1.02%, or 55.73 points, to 5,512.70. The FTSE All-Share Index edged higher 0.98%, or 27.48 points, to 2,827.09.
Economists expect home prices to decline at a slower pace in forthcoming months with prices reaching a bottom in the middle of 2012. Property prices declined 3.2 per cent in October, compared to the same period last year.
Standard & Poor's is expected to release its verdict on credit ratings for 15 euro zone countries in January, after putting them on credit watch December 6 for a possible cut in the absence of decisive action from European leaders.
Japanese stocks fell on Thursday as record borrowing from the European Central Bank showed how deeply the debt crisis has affected the financial system. The Nikkei 225 shed 0.77%, or 64.82 points, to 8,395.16, while the broader Topix lost 0.35%, or 2.56, to 723.12.