Coincident Economic Indicators

London shares closed lower on Thursday as traders looked past positive economic data to focus on bleak eurozone news, notably fallout from the Cyprus bailout impasse.

Ireland's bailed-out economy grew by 0.9 percent in 2012 but stagnated in the final quarter of the year, official data for the troubled eurozone nation showed on Thursday.

British retail sales jumped 2.1 percent in February, official data showed on Thursday, after dropping by 0.7 percent in January when snow caused shoppers to avoid the high street.

Manufacturing activity in China improved in March after expanding at its slowest pace in four months in February, HSBC said on Thursday, lifting hopes for a pick-up in the world's number two economy.

The government will stick firmly to a barrage of austerity measures, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne insisted in a budget that also slashed economic growth forecasts, while offering plans to boost the weak economy as the eurozone crisis reignites.

Britain will stick firmly to a barrage of austerity measures, finance minister George Osborne insisted in a budget that also slashed economic growth forecasts, while offering plans to boost the weak economy as the eurozone crisis reignites.

New Zealand's economic growth reached a four-year high in 2012, the best since the country went through a recession that it has long struggled to shake off, official data showed Thursday.

The Federal Reserve kept its monetary easing policies in place Wednesday as it trimmed its 2013 and 2014 economic growth forecasts for the US economy.

China's online sales are forecast to exceed $420 billion annually by 2020, which will likely make the country the world's largest online retail market, a study showed Thursday.

George Osborne refrained from altering the Bank of England's inflation target on Wednesday, despite concerns that GDP would be a more sensible measure, but gave it more leeway to boost economic growth.

Britain will stick firmly to a barrage of austerity measures, George Osborne insisted Wednesday in a budget that also slashed economic growth forecasts, while offering plans to boost the weak economy as the eurozone crisis reignites.

The government on Wednesday halved its economic growth forecast for 2013, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne revealed in his annual budget.

India may further ease foreign direct investment caps to spur greater inflow of funds from abroad and promote growth in its sharply slowing economy, the finance minister said on Monday.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has gotten off to a somewhat shaky start to 2013, but that will not jeopardise its expected recovery later this year, the Bundesbank said on Monday.

Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme, dealers said.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new record closing for the seventh straight day Wednesday as US stocks registered small gains.

European stock markets closed mostly in negative territory on Wednesday as traders cashed in recent gains and chewed over mixed eurozone inflation figures.

Economic growth in G20 countries climbed by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, slowing only slightly from the 0.6 percent pace recorded in the previous three-month period despite heavy contractions across Europe, preliminary estimates from the OECD showed Wednesday.

European stock markets fell on Wednesday, mirroring earlier losses in Asia, as traders cashed in recent gains and chewed over mixed eurozone inflation figures.

Britain's manufacturing output slumped by 1.5 percent in January compared with December, official data showed on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to the country's hopes of avoiding a fresh recession.