U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday while German investor confidence unexpectedly improved and blue chip companies from General Electrics to Microsoft reported better than expected earnings.
German business confidence unexpectedly improved in April, a sign the euro zone's largest economy is weathering Europe's debt crisis. Ifo business climate index, which is based on a survey of 7,000 businesses, rose to 109.9 points from 109.8 points in March.
U.K. claims for unemployment benefits rose less than expected and unemployment declined, signs that the economy is stabilizing. Claims increased by 3,600 in March to 1.61 million, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.
Japanese exports surged 5.9 per cent in March, compared to the same period last year, said the Ministry of Finance on Thursday. The trade deficit for March was 82.6 billion yen, less than economists forecast of 223.2 billion yen.
Swiss stocks edged higher after Spain scraped through a key bond auction on Thursday.
U.K. stocks were little changed on Thursday.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined by 2,000 to 386,000 in the week ended April 14 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
Spain sold 2.54 billion euros of debt dated 2014 and 2022 on Thursday, above the target range of 1.5 to 2.5 billion euros for the auction.
The seasonally adjusted current account of the euro zone swung a deficit of EUR1.3 billion in February from a surplus of EUR3.7 billion in January, said the European Central Bank on Wednesday.
Japanese stocks surged on Wednesday, after the International Monetary Fund raised its global economic forecast and Spain sold more debt than its target.
Swiss stocks edged lower on Wednesday, led by a decline in banking shares. UBS lost 2.6 per cent and Credit Suisse fell 1.6 per cent.
U.S. stocks fell after Intel Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. disappointed market participants with their quarterly results.
Japanese stocks were little changed on Tuesday.
Swiss stocks gained on Tuesday after Spain sold more debt than it had targeted.
U.K. inflation accelerated in March for the first time in half a year, driven by higher food prices. Consumer prices increased 3.5 per cent, compared to the same period last year, said the European Statistical Office on Tuesday.
U.S. housing starts fell in March but building permits rose to highest level since 2009, Commerce Department data showed on Tuesday. Groundbreakings declined to an annual rate of 0.65 million, while permits advanced to 0.75 million.
An index of German investor confidence unexpectedly rose to 23.4 in April from 22.3 in March, said the ZEW Centre for European Economic Research on Tuesday. ZEW sentiment is based on a survey conducted among 350 German investors and analysts, who are asked to rate the six-month economic outlook.
Japanese stocks erased Friday's gains Monday on concern the European debt crisis is escalating.
Swiss stocks rose on Monday, led by health-care companies. Roche Holding AG, world's largest cancer drugs manufacturer, gained 1.2 per cent.
U.K. home prices soared 2.9 per cent to 243,737 pounds in April, announced the Rightmove Plc, owner of the U.K.'s largest residential property web site, on Monday.
U.S. month on month retail sales rose by more than expected in March, said the Census Bureau on Monday. Total retail sales increased 0.8 per cent the previous month after increasing 1.0 per cent in February.
Spain's cost of borrowing on the international debt markets breached the level of 6 per cent for 10-year bonds on Monday, mounting pressure on the European Central Bank to conduct new round of bond purchases.
Japanese stocks closed higher on Friday, after a North Korean rocket launch failed.
Swiss stocks retreated on Friday, after China's economic growth slowed more than forecast.