Sales of new U.S. homes advanced to a seven month high in November, according to the data published by the Census Bureau. The number of new houses sold rose 1.6 per cent to an annualized rate of 315 thousand from 310 thousand in October.
S&P top official warned Friday that record 489 billion euros allotted between 523 European banks by the ECB will not protect them from threatened rating downgrades.
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.
Swiss stocks rose for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday after a report showed U.S. jobless applications decreased and consumer sentiment improved, a sign that the world's largest economy is recovering.
U.K. gross domestic product grew revised 0.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2011, faster than previous estimates of 0.5 per cent, said the Office for National Statistics on Thursday. The Bank of England expects the economy to stagnate in the fourth quarter and in the beginning of 2012.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits dropped to 364 thousand in the week ended December 17, the lowest level since April 2008, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. Economists expected the reading to increase to 376 thousand.
Italy's senate passed a vote of confidence 257 to 41 on Prime Minister Mario Monti's emergency budget plan on Thursday as the government struggles to restore investor confidence in the euro zone's third largest economy.
Japan's exports dropped for a second consecutive month in November and the Bank of Japan lowered its assessment of the economy as strong Yen and debt crisis in Europe weighted on overseas demand.
Swiss stocks closed little changed on Wednesday after the European Central Bank lend out 489 billion euros in three-year loans to European banks.
U.K. consumer confidence slid further in December as the country's habitants became more pessimistic on the outlook of the economy. An index, which measures consumers' sentiment, dropped to -33 from -31 in November, said a market research agency GfK NOP.
U.S. existing home sales rose less than expected in November, signalling fragile real estate market recovery. The number of existing houses sold rose to an annual rate of 4.42 million, said the National Association of Realtors on Wednesday.
The European Central Bank allotted 489 billion euros in three year loans to 523 European banks at an average rate of 1 percent on Wednesday, exceeding forecast of 300 billion euros.
Japan is in talks to purchase Chinese government bonds, said Finance Minister Jun Azumi on Tuesday, a step toward diversification of country's foreign exchange holdings.
Swiss stocks rose on Tuesday for a second consecutive day after the U.S. Census Bureau announced better-than-expected housing starts and increase in building permits in the world's largest economy.
U.K. consumer confidence rose in November as consumers became more optimistic on the outlook of the country's economy, said the Nationwide Building Society on Tuesday. An index of sentiment gained to 40 points from 36 points in October.
Housing starts and building permits rose more than forecast in November, indicating the market is stabilizing heading into 2012. Starts and permits increased 9.3 and 5.7 per cent to seasonally adjusted annual rates of 685 and 681 thousand respectively, said the Census Bureau on Tuesday.
German business sentiment improved in December, indicating the largest economy in the European Union remains resilient to regional debt crisis. Ifo business climate index rose to 107.2 points from 106.6 points in November, said the Ifo Institute for Economic Research.
Japanese stocks extended losses on Monday after death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong as investors sold equities on concern over regional stability. The Nikkei 225 shed 1.26%, or 105.60 points, to 8,296.12, while the broader Topix lost 0.99%, or 7.18, to 716.38.
Swiss stocks rose on Monday after European finance ministers held a conference to discuss 200 billion euros in additional funding through the International Monetary Fund.
U.K. home sellers decreased prices in December, said the Rightmove Plc on Monday, underlining "challenging conditions" on the real estate market. Average asking prices dropped 2.7 per cent to 225,766 pounds from November.
Homebuilder sentiment increased for a third consecutive month in December, said the National Association of Home Builders on Monday. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market index rose to 21 this month from downwardly revised 19 in November. Reading below 50 indicates negative outlook.
Economists suggest that the future of the European Union and the fate of the single currency will become clear in the first half of the year 2012, highlighting importance of structural reforms to be implemented by Italy, the euro area's third largest economy.
Japanese stocks closed mixed on Friday as investors' worries over the eurozone economy were partly offset by better-than-expected employment data in the U.S. The Nikkei 225 gained 0.29%, or 24.35 points, to 8,401.72, while the broader Topix shed 0.20%, or 1.46, to 723.56.
Swiss stocks declined on Friday as Standard and Poor's warned that European exports may weaken further in 2012. Despite this forecast, Swiss stocks will perform "very well in 2012," said Sean Darby, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies Group Inc.