A report released by the University of Michigan on Friday showed a substantial deterioration in U.S. consumer sentiment in the month of May. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index plunged to 67.4 in May from 77.2 in April. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 76.0.

The UK economy ended a technical recession in the first quarter with the economic output growing better than expected and also marked the strongest since late 2021 led by a rebound in the services output and household spending. Gross domestic product grew 0.6 percent from the fourth quarter, when the economy shrunk 0.3 percent, preliminary estimates from the Office for National Statistics showed.

The U.S. dollar drifted lower against its major counterparts on Thursday after data showing a much bigger than expected increase in U.S. jobless claims added to recently renewed optimism that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in the coming months.

First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose by much more than expected in the week ended May 4th, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The report said initial jobless claims climbed to 231,000, an increase of 22,000 from the previous week's revised level of 209,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to inch up to 210,000.

The Bank of England left its key policy rate unchanged for the sixth consecutive meeting and signaled that the first rate cut since 2020 is on the horizon. The Monetary Policy Committee decided to hold the Bank Rate at 5.25 percent again in a split vote. The current bank rate is the highest since early 2008.

The British pound weakened against other major currencies in the late European session on Thursday, after the Bank of England maintained its key policy rate for the sixth consecutive meeting.

China's exports and imports rebounded more than expected in April after a weak trade data in the previous month that boost hopes that net trade would support economic growth, official data revealed Thursday. Largely due to the lower base of comparison, exports advanced 1.5 percent on a yearly basis in April, the customs office reported. This was faster than the 1.0 percent expected growth and rev

The Philippine economy expanded at a faster pace in the first quarter but the rate fell short of expectations on weaker domestic demand growth amid tight monetary policy. Gross domestic product grew 5.7 percent from a year ago after rising 5.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Thursday. Growth was seen at 5.9 percent.

The monetary policy announcement from the Bank of England is the only major event due on an otherwise light day for European economic news. The nine-member monetary policy committee of the BoE is widely expected to keep the benchmark rate unchanged for the sixth consecutive meeting. At 5.25 percent, the current Bank Rate is the highest since early 2008.

South Korea had a current account surplus of $6.93 billion in March, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday.

The U.S. dollar gained some ground against its major counterparts on Wednesday with traders assessing the likely move of the Federal Reserve with regard to interest rates, after recent economic data and hawkish comments from some Fed officials.

The Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing a pullback by U.S. wholesale inventories in the month of March. The report said wholesale inventories fell by 0.4 percent in March after rising by 0.2 percent in February. The decrease by wholesale inventories matched economist estimates.

Sweden's central bank lowered its policy rate for the first time in eight years and signaled another two more rate reductions during the second half of the year as inflation approaches the target of around 2 percent amid the weak economic activity. The executive board of the Riksbank, led by Governor Erik Thedeen, decided to lower the policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.75 percent.

Germany's industrial production declined for the first time in three months in March driven by the decreases in consumer and intermediate goods output, official data revealed Wednesday. Industrial production declined 0.4 percent on a monthly basis, in contrast to the 1.7 percent increase in February, Destatis reported.

Industrial production from Germany is the top economic news due on Wednesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's industrial production data for March. Output is expected to fall 0.6 percent on month, in contrast to the 2.1 percent rise in February.