U.K. has been invited to participate in discussion on a eurozone fiscal pact, despite rejecting to sign up to it, said the government on Thursday. Prime Minister David Cameron voted against changes to the EU treaty at a summit in Brussels December 9.
U.S. month on month consumer prices stagnated in November after declining 0.1 per cent in October, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. Prices were little changed as gasoline and food prices dropped, supporting the Federal Reserve view that inflation will remain stable.
Credit Agricole SA, France's second largest bank by assets, will make losses in 2011, write of 2.5 billion euros worth of assets and cut approximately 2,350 jobs as European debt crisis looms. Fitch and Moody's downgraded the company's credit rating this month.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Thursday after better-than-expected reports on U.S. initial jobless claims and manufacturing.
Japan's largest manufacturers became less optimistic on the outlook of the country's economy amid crisis in Europe and after foreign investment in China slid for the first time since 2009.
U.K. month on month retail sales dropped in November, said the Office for National Statistics on Thursday. Sales fell 0.4 per cent the previous month after increasing 0.6 per cent in October. Economists expected the reading to decline 0.3 per cent.
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.