With an uptick in inventories of durable goods offset by a dip in inventories of non-durable goods, the Commerce Department released a report showing U.S. wholesale inventories came in roughly flat in the month of August. The report said wholesale inventories were virtually unchanged in August after inching up by 0.1 percent in July.

Partly reflecting the end of the U.S. government shutdown, the University of Michigan released a report on Friday showing consumer sentiment in the U.S. deteriorated by slightly less than previously estimated in the month of November. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index for November was upwardly revised to 51.0 from the preliminary reading of 50.3.

The UK private sector activity reported a softer expansion in November, largely due to a loss of momentum in the service sector, flash survey results from S&P Global revealed on Friday. The composite output index fell more-than-expected to 50.5 in November from 52.2 in October. The expected level was 51.8.

Eurozone private sector logged a robust growth in the penultimate month of the year as services activity grew the most in a year-and-a-half, survey results published by S&P Global showed on Friday. The flash HCOB composite output index dropped marginally to 52.4 in November from 52.5 in October. The score was forecast to remain stable at 52.5.

UK retail sales declined for the first time in five months in October as consumers delayed their spending in the lead up to Black Friday, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday. British consumer confidence deteriorated in November ahead of the upcoming autumn budget, a private survey revealed.

Singapore's economic growth for the current year was upgraded on Friday after the city-state economy posted a stronger-than-expected expansion in the third quarter. The Ministry of Trade and Industry forecast the economy to grow around 4 percent in 2025, which was revised up from 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent projected earlier.

Flash purchasing managers' survey results from the euro area and the UK are the top economic news due on Friday. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics publishes UK retail sales and public sector finance data. Retail sales are forecast to fall 0.1 percent month-on-month in October, in contrast to the 0.5 percent rise in September.

The South African Reserve Bank lowered the key interest rate on Thursday, citing space for less restrictive policy as policymakers assessed that the inflation outlook has improved.

Consumer confidence in the euro area was unchanged in November after improving steadily in the previous two months, preliminary survey data from the European Commission showed Thursday.

Partly reflecting strength in the Midwest, the National Association of Realtors released a report on Thursday showing existing home sales in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in the month of October. NAR said existing home sales shot up by 1.2 percent to an annual rate of 4.10 million in October after jumping by 1.3 percent to a downwardly revised rate of 4.05 million in September.

After reporting a steep drop by its reading on regional manufacturing activity in the previous month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released on report on Thursday showing the index rebounded in November but remained in negative territory. The Philly Fed said its diffusion index for current general activity jumped to a negative 1.7 in November.

First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by slightly more than expected in the week ended November 15th, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The report said initial jobless claims dipped to 220,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's level of 228,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to edge down to 223,000.

A long-delayed report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed employment in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in the month of September. The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment jumped by 119,000 jobs in September after a revised dip of 4,000 jobs in August. Economists had expected employment to rise by 50,000 jobs.

The Australian dollar strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday, after the People's Bank of China maintained its benchmark lending rates for the sixth straight month.

The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday, as traders speculate that the Bank of Japan or BoJ is unlikely to hike its interest rate.

Producer prices data from Germany is the major report due on Thursday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis releases Germany's producer prices for October. Prices are forecast to fall 1.9 percent on a yearly basis, following a 1.7 percent drop in September.

The People's Bank of China maintained its benchmark lending rates for the sixth straight month. The PBoC kept its one-year loan prime rate unchanged at 3.0 percent on Thursday. Similarly, the five-year LPR, the benchmark for mortgage rates, was retained at 3.50 percent. The decision came in line with expectations.

Loan applications for house purchase in the U.S. decreased in the week ended November 14 as mortgage rates continued to increase, survey data from the Mortgage Bankers Association showed on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve released the minutes of its latest monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, revealing officials had mixed views about the outlook for interest rates. The minutes of the Fed's October 28-29 meeting said participants expressed "strongly differing views" about what policy decision would most likely be appropriate at the central bank's next meeting on December 9-10.

A report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday showed the U.S. trade deficit narrowed significantly in the month of August amid a steep drop in the value of imports. The Commerce Department said the trade deficit shrank to $59.6 billion in August from a revised $78.2 billion in July. Economists had expected the trade deficit to decrease to $61.0 billion.

Iceland's central bank lowered its key interest rate unexpectedly as the economy is expected to recover more slowly than previously anticipated due to worsening prospects for exports. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Iceland, led by Governor Ásgeir Jónsson, unanimously decided to cut the rate on seven-day term deposits to 7.25 percent from 7.50 percent.

UK consumer price inflation eased in October, ahead of the Autumn budget announcement, official data revealed Wednesday. The moderation has eased pressure on households and raised hopes of interest rate cut in December. The consumer price index logged an annual growth of 3.6 percent in October, slower than the 3.8 percent rise in September.

Australia's leading index signaled that the growth will move at a slightly above-trend pace in early 2026, Westpac said on Wednesday. The six-month annualized growth rate in the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity relative to trend three to nine months into the future, rose to 0.35 percent in October from 0.10 percent in September.

Consumer prices from the UK and the euro area are the top economic news due on Wednesday. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK consumer prices for October. Economists forecast inflation to ease to 3.5 percent from 3.8 percent in September.

Homebuilder confidence in the U.S. has unexpectedly seen a modest improvement in the month of November, according to a report released by the National Association of Home Builders on Tuesday. The report said the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index crept up to 38 in November after jumping to 37 in October.