A report released by the University of Michigan on Friday showed consumer sentiment in the U.S. deteriorated modestly less than previously estimated in the month of April. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index for April was upwardly revised to 52.2 from a preliminary reading of 50.8. Economists had expected the index to be unrevised.

The Bank of Russia left its interest rate unchanged as widely expected on Friday, despite high inflationary pressures. The board of directors, governed by Elvira Nabiullina, maintained the key interest rate at a record high 21.00 percent. The Russian central bank has raised the key interest rate by 1,350 basis points since July 2023.

UK retail sales grew unexpectedly in March as good weather boosted demand for clothing and garden supplies, but U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and concerns of higher inflation dampened consumer sentiment, data showed Friday. Retail sales grew 0.4 percent on a monthly basis, confounding expectations for a decline of 0.3 percent.

The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Friday, as European shares eked out modest gains, with signs of easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions and some upbeat corporate earnings helping underpin investor sentiment.

The commodity currencies such as Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday, as traders remain optimistic about a favorable outcome from the ongoing tariff negotiations between the U.S. and several partner countries, particularly China, Japan, South Korea and India. Comments from two U.S. Fed officials about cutting interest rates also improved market sentiment.

UK auto production logged a double-digit growth in March but the expansion was not sufficient to offset the first quarter decline, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, or SMMT, said Friday. Production of cars and commercial vehicles advanced 17.1 percent year-on-year in March. Production for home market climbed 4.7 percent and that for foreign market surged 23.4 percent.

Retail sales from the UK and business confidence from France are due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK retail sales for March. Sales are forecast to fall 0.3 percent month-on-month, in contrast to the 1.0 percent increase in February.

Reflecting affordability challenges associated with high mortgage rates, the National Association of Realtors released a report on Thursday showing a steep drop by U.S. existing home sales in the month of March. NAR said existing home sales plunged by 5.9 percent to an annual rate of 4.02 million in March after surging by 4.4 percent to a revised rate of 4.27 million in February.

A report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday showed new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods surged much more than expected in the month of March amid a spike by orders for transportation equipment. The Commerce Department said durable goods orders shot up by 9.2 percent in March after climbing by a downwardly revised 0.9 percent in February.

The Labor Department released a report on Thursday showing first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits edged modestly higher in the week ended April 19th. The report said initial jobless claims crept up to 222,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level of 216,000.

UK manufacturing orders improved in April but export orders deteriorated sharply as tariff tensions escalate, the Industrial Trends Survey results from the Confederation of British Industry revealed on Thursday.

German business confidence improved in April despite trade tariff uncertainty weighing on expectations, survey results from the the Munich-based ifo Institute revealed on Thursday. The ifo business climate index rose to 86.9 points from 86.7 points in March. The score was forecast to fall to 85.1.

The Australian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday, as some traders speculate that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is likely to lower interest rates by 25 basis points at its next month meeting.

Business sentiment from Germany and consumer confidence from France are due on Thursday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.45 am ET, France's statistical office INSEE releases consumer confidence survey results. The consumer sentiment index is forecast to fall to 91 in April from 92 in March.

South Korea's gross domestic product was down a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent on quarter in the first quarter of 2025, the Bank of Korea said in Thursday's preliminary reading.

New home sales in the U.S. surged by much more than expected in the month of March, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. The Commerce Department said new home sales spiked by 7.4 percent to an annual rate of 724,000 in March after jumping by 3.1 percent to a revised rate of 674,000 in February.

The euro area private sector moved closer to stagnation in April as activity was held back by faster reduction in orders amid the escalating trade tariff concerns, the results of the latest purchasing managers' survey by S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The HCOB flash composite output index eased to 50.1 in April, which was only slightly above the 50.0 no-change mark.

Germany's private sector fell into the contraction territory in April as trade tariff concerns damped business confidence and demand, flash purchasing managers' survey by S&P Global revealed Wednesday. The composite output index fell to 49.7 in April from 51.3 in March. The score fell below the 50.0 no-change mark for the first time in four months.

The British pound weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday, after the U.K. private sector activity deteriorated for the first time in one-and-a-half years in April amid weaker foreign demand linked to tariff uncertainty.

France's private sector activity came under renewed pressure in April due to pronounced demand weakness in the domestic market and sharp deterioration in confidence, flash survey data from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The HCOB composite output index registered 47.3 in April, down from 48.0 in March. The reading was expected to ease to 47.8.

Flash composite Purchasing Managers' survey from the euro area and the UK are the top economic news due on Wednesday. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK public sector finance data for March. The budget deficit is seen at GBP 15.4 billion compared to GBP 10.7 billion in February.

The Indian rupee weakened against the U.S. dollar in the Asian session on Wednesday, as terrorist attacks in Kashmir, India, weighed on sentiment.

The commodity currencies such as Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said tariffs on China would be trimmed down from the current 145 percent rate. Reports also indicate that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a closed-door investor summit he expects the trade dispute between the U.S. and China to de-escalate.

The International Monetary Fund slashed the global growth forecasts for this year and next on Tuesday, citing the potential impact of the trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and cautioned against significant adverse effect on the world economy if the current trade tensions persist.

Euro area consumer sentiment eroded for a second month in a row in April to its lowest level in one-and-a-half years, survey data from the European Commission showed on Tuesday.