German business morale deteriorated the most since the end of 2012 in August as the Ukraine crisis weighed sharply on investors' confidence
After reaching a level of 88.35 U.S. cents on July 10, the New Zealand Dollar has been falling since then on a number of reasons including a mounting pressure from commodity prices, which declined for a fifth consecutive month in July, and increased demand for the U.S. Dollar, as a risk-off sentiment prevails in the market amid geopolitical tensions between
Retail sales in the Alpine country rose considerably more than expected in June following a dip in the previous month, fuelling optimism over the Swiss economy health.
Retail sales in the U.K. rose less than expected in July as heavy discounting in the food sector and ongoing low food inflation caused less spending by consumers on food, according to the British Retail Consortium report.
Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said on Monday that disappointing recovery of the global economy may have a adverse impact on the U.S economic performance, which in the long-run may grow at a moderate pace of just 2%.
As Lithuania is heading towards the Euro zone membership as soon as 2015, it backs up the fact that the Euro is a strong reserve currency.
The Reserve Bank of Australia downgraded its growth and inflation outlook on a steeper decline of mining investment and reiterated its pledge to keep interest rates unchanged.
The Bank of Japan downgraded its outlook on the nation's exports amid escalating geopolitical woes, the second cut of its view on outbound shipments in six months, highlighting the BoJ's fears about the global economy.
Britain's trade gap unexpectedly widened in June, fuelling concerns over the effect a strong Pound is having on competitiveness of British goods abroad.
U.S. nonfarm productivity rose more strongly than expected in the three month through June, while a dramatic decline in unit labour costs indicated still tame wage pressures, providing the Federal Reserve with room to keep interest rates low for a while.
While Germany, European biggest economy, continues missing economists forecasts, France recorded an improvement in industrial output in June. French industrial production rebounded, rising as much as 1.3% following the 1.6% decline in the preceding month, while analysts had expected a 1.0% increase.
As it was widely expected none of the major central banks provided any surprises to markets, as all banks kept their monetary policy steady and maintained their benchmark interest rates untouched.
While increasing participation rate considered to be a good sign for economy, it could also send a country's unemployment rate to new highs.
Canadian building permits rose surprisingly by 13.5% in June to second highest level on record, amid higher construction intentions in the province of Quebec.
Just like their European colleagues, the BoE policymakers decided to leave the benchmark interest rate untouched. However, unlike the ECB, debate over interest rate hike is heating up among the Monetary Policy Committee members.
The number of new applications for unemployment aid declined last week to the second lowest level this year, adding to signs of a strengthening labour market.
Germany, which is still considered to be the engine of economic growth in Europe, continues to disappoint markets and fuelling slowdown fears.
Swiss annual inflation remained unchanged, whereas on a monthly basis cost of living declined, being a protracted headache for the Swiss National Bank, which has limited tools left at its disposal.
Just like its neighbour, Canada also surprised markets with substantially better than initially expected trade data, as the country saw its trade surplus jumping to the highest level in more than two years, supported by exports, which hit the record high.
While the neighbouring Eurozone countries show uneven economic performance, casting further doubts over its economic outlook in the long run and making policy makers nervous, the U.K. also slightly disappointed economists on Wednesday as industrial production rose less than projected.
Previously it was expected that the U.S. trade balance would increase marginally from –$44.66 billion recorded in May to -$44.7 billion.
Wednesday's data from Europe painted a cloudy economic outlook for the region, which shares the single currency.
While the RBA keeps its cash rate at record low and expects a period of steady borrowing costs amid flagging economy, with the central bank trying to rebalance the economy as Australia's mining investment boom fades, the Australian economy is capable of weathering difficult economic conditions, but relying on interest rates alone will not help the country's financial woes.
Although, employment change in New Zealand surprised to the downside, with the corresponding gauge coming in at 3.7% in the June quarter against expectations of 4%, the unemployment rate fell to the lowest level in five years in the second quarter.