The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined to 374,000 in the week ended June 30 from 386,000 the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
European central bank cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 0.75 per cent on Thursday to ease borrowing costs for struggling euro zone banks. It also lowered deposit rates to zero from 0.25 per cent.
Japanese stocks extended gains on Wednesday on hopes central banks in Europe and China will take action to promote growth.
Swiss stocks edged higher on Wednesday ahead of central bank policy meetings.
U.K. service sector barely grew in June, compared to May. The Markit/Cips services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 51.3 from 53.3 in May, said the Markit research agency on Wednesday. Reading above 50.0 indicates industry expansion.
U.S. banks were closed on Wednesday in observance of Independence Day.
Eurozone retail sales rose unexpectedly in May, but the trend remains sluggish. Retail sales in the 17-nation bloc advanced 0.6 per cent, after declining a negatively revised 1.4 per cent in April, said the European Statistics Office (Eurostat) on Wednesday.
Japanese stocks rose on Tuesday on expectations the Fed will ease policy and ECB will cut interest rates.
Swiss stocks closed in green on Tuesday after a report showed factory orders in the world's largest economy rose more than expected.
U.K. construction activity fell at the fastest pace for more than two years in June. The purchasing managers index for the industry retreated to 48.2 from 54.4 in May, showed a survey by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
New orders for U.S. factory orders advanced more than economists forecast in May. New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.7 per cent, said the Commerce Department on Tuesday.
European stocks rose on Tuesday after a report showed U.S. factory orders climbed in May.
Japanese stocks retreated on Monday.
Swiss stocks closed in green on Monday.
U.K. manufacturing sector contracted modestly in June, Markit data showed on Monday. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index increased to 48.6 from 45.9 in May. A reading below 50 signals contraction.
U.S. manufacturing contracted in June for the first time since 2009 as new orders tumbled, a sign the world's largest economy is cooling. The Institute for Supply Management's index of national factory activity fell to 49.7 from 53.5 a month before.
Unemployment in the 17-nation bloc rose to another record in May, a sign the economy is on the brink of recession. Jobless rate climbed to 11.1 per cent in May from 11 per cent the previous month, Eurostat data showed on Monday.
Japan's industrial output contracted 3.1 per cent from the previous month in May, the largest decline since the March 2011 earthquake, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Friday.
Swiss stocks rose for the third day in four on Friday after European leaders agreed on a number of measures to combat the debt crisis.
U.K. consumer confidence failed to improve in June, said GfK NOP Ltd. An index of sentiment remained unchanged at -29 points from the previous month.
U.S. consumer confidence deteriorated in June to the lowest level this year as Americans became less optimistic on the economic outlook. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of sentiment fell to 73.2 from 79.3 in May.
European stocks jumped on Friday after European leaders eased loan conditions for Spanish banks and unveiled a growth plan for the region's economy.
Japan's retail sales rose more than expected in May, said the Trade Ministry in Tokyo on Thursday. Sales gained 3.6 per cent from the same period last year.
Swiss stocks lost ground on Thursday, snapping two days of gains.