Swiss stock gained on Friday, after U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' report showed the unemployment rate in the world's largest economy declined to 8.6 percent in November.
U.K. construction sector contracted modestly in November, according to the data published by the Markit agency on Friday. The construction purchasing managers' index slid to 52.3 in November from 53.9 in October. A reading above 50 signals industry expansion.
The unemployment rate declined to 8.6 percent in November from 9 percent in October, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. Economists expected the reading to remain at 9 percent.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a speech to parliament Friday that European sovereign debt crisis cannot be solved in one step and once again rejected joint euro bonds idea, urging instead a tighter fiscal union.
Japanese stocks rose on Thursday after six central banks agreed to lower rate on U.S. dollar liquidity swap arrangements by 50 basis points. The Nikkei 225 rose 1.93%, or 162.77 points, to 8,597.38, while the broader Topix gained 1.59%, or 11.55, to 740.01.
Swiss gross domestic product rose moderate 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011 and at the slowest pace since 2009, the Federal State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said on Thursday.
U.K. manufacturing sector contracted modestly in November, according to the data published by the Markit agency on Thursday. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index slid to 47.6 in November from 47.8 in October. A reading below 50 signals contraction.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits rose to 402 thousand last week from 396 thousand the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. Economists expected the reading to decline to 390 thousand.
The new head of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi hinted on Thursday that the bank is ready to take more decisive action if political leaders agree on tighter fiscal policy among member countries next week.
Japan's preliminary industrial output increased 2.4 per cent from the previous month in October, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported on Wednesday. Economists expected the figure to advance 1.1 per cent.
Swiss stocks gained on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve System and five major European central banks cut rate 0.5 percent on existing U.S. dollar liquidity swap arrangements.
U.K. consumer confidence improved slightly in November, while still remaining close to its lowest level since 2009, as the country's habitants remain pessimistic on the outlook of the country's economy. An index, which measures consumers' sentiment, rose to -31 in November from -32 in October.
The number of Americans, who have found a job in a private sector in November rose to 206 thousand from 130 thousand the previous month, the ADP Employer Services said on Wednesday. Economists expected the figure to increase to 131 thousand.
The Federal Reserve Wednesday decreased dollar borrowing costs for European central banks by cutting rate on existing U.S. dollar liquidity swap arrangements by 50 basis points, or 0.5 percent. This action will provide cheaper dollar liquidity for financial companies.
The number of unemployed Japanese surged more than expected in October, adding pressure on the Bank of Japan to introduce additional stimulus to support the country's economy.
Swiss stocks rose modestly on Tuesday, after Italy has successfully placed all of its debt at above 7 per cent during an auction the same day.
House prices in U.K. edged higher for a third consecutive month in November, said the Nationwide Building Society on Tuesday. Average home price rose 0.4 per cent to ВЈ165,798, 1.6 percent higher than a year ago.
U.S. consumer confidence rose the most in more than 8 years in November as consumers became more optimistic on the outlook of the country's economy, the Conference Board Inc. said on Tuesday. An index of sentiment advanced to 56 points in November from 40.9 points in October.
Standards & Poor's credit rating agency may downgrade France's top notch triple A rating within next ten days, a French newspaper La Tribune reported on Monday. "It could happen within a week, perhaps 10 days." S&P officials in Europe rejected to comment on rumors.
Retail sales in the U.K. declined in November for a sixth consecutive month to the lowest reading since March 2009, said the Confederation of British Industry on Monday. The index measuring sales declined to -19 in November from -11 in October. Above 0 indicates higher sales volume, below indicates lower.
Swiss stocks gained on Monday, rebounding after a week of losses amid speculations that European Union's top officials are preparing solutions to tame the sovereign debt crisis.
Japanese stocks rose on Monday after strong Black Friday sales in the U.S. The Nikkei 225 edged higher 1.56%, or 127.48 points, to 8,287.49, while the broader Topix rose 1.29%, or 9.10 points, to 715.70.
Moody's Investors Service said on Monday that deteriorating debt crisis in the euro zone threatens all European government credit ratings and certain countries may soon lose access to market funding.
Sales of new U.S. houses rose 1.3 per cent to an annual rate of 307 thousand in October from 303 thousand in September, while prices decreased 0.5 per cent, according to the data published by the Census Bureau on Monday.