European economic data released on Friday topped analyst expectations, giving a boost to the region's stock markets.
Just on the heels of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cutting interest rates for the first time in three years by 50 basis points to boost economic growth, a poll conducted by Reuters expected India's economy to pick up this year.
Brazilian cities continue to require parking in new developments, to the chagrin of builders and environmentalists.
Haitong Securities Co. (SHA: 600837), China's second-largest brokerage by assets, raised HK$13 billion ($1.7 billion) in the largest public offering in the world so far this year, media reports said Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose slightly to 3.90 percent in the week ending April 19, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said Thursday.
U.S. existing home sales fell 2.6 percent in March to an annual rate of 4.48 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday, missing expectations and highlighting continued weakness in the housing market.
Brazil’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 9 percent from 9.75 percent on Wednesday, bringing the rate down to near-historic levels. This is the sixth time Banco Central do Brasil has reduced its Selic rate since August, when it cut the rate to 12 percent from 12.5 percent.