Euro area consumer sentiment eroded at a faster-than-expected pace in October to reach its lowest level in five months as several countries witness public unrest against a host of issues from the rising cost of living to poor education infrastructure.

The Conference Board released a report on Thursday showing its reading leading U.S. economic indicators unexpectedly came in flat in the month of September. The report said the leading economic index was unchanged in September after edging down by 0.1 percent in August. Economists had expected the index to dip by 0.2 percent.

First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly declined in the week ended October 17th, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The report said initial jobless claims fell to 194,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level of 200,000.

The Philippine central bank lifted its key interest rates by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points on Thursday to curb second-round effects and to anchor inflation expectations. The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decided to raise the reverse repurchase rate by 50 basis points to 5.50 percent. Markets were expecting a quarter-point hike.

French manufacturing confidence rose to its highest level since July 2022 with robust improvement in opinion related to global and foreign order books, survey results from the statistical office INSEE showed Thursday. The manufacturing sentiment index climbed to 105 in October from 101 in the previous month. The score was the highest since July 2022.

The Japanese yen strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday, as Asian stock markets traded lower amid a re-escalation in the Middle East conflict after a deadly attack on a Saudi oil field overnight sent crude oil prices spiking and added to concerns over supply disruptions and global inflationary pressures.

Europe's new car registrations growth accelerated in September, driven by the surge in electric car sales, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, revealed Thursday. New car sales increased 9.3 percent on a yearly basis in September, which was faster than the 4.5 percent rise posted in August.

The Bank of Korea left its benchmark rate unchanged on Thursday, following two consecutive quarter-point rate hikes and maintained a hawkish stance as inflation is expected to remain above the target level. The seven-member monetary policy board unanimously decided to keep the base rate unchanged at 3.00 percent, as widely expected, on Thursday.

The Bank of Korea left its benchmark rate unchanged on Thursday, following two consecutive quarter-point rate hikes and maintained a hawkish stance as inflation is expected to remain above the target level. The seven-member monetary policy board unanimously decided to keep the base rate unchanged at 3.00 percent, as widely expected, on Thursday.

UK consumer price inflation strengthened more than expected in September as the Middle East conflict kept motor fuel prices high, reinforcing expectations for Bank of England rate hike next month. Consumer prices registered an annual growth of 3.5 percent after rising 3.1 percent in August, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday.

The British pound strengthened slightly against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday, as the U.K. consumer price inflation rose to a one-year high in September on motor fuel prices, fueled expectations on the Bank of England (BoE) rate hike.

Pending home sales in the U.S. plunged by much more than expected in the month of September, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Tuesday. NAR said its pending home sales plummeted by 7.3 percent to 66.0 in September after rising by 0.3 percent to 71.2 in August. Economists had expected pending home sales to fall by 0.4 percent.

The UK unemployment rate unexpectedly declined in the three months to August amid falling job vacancies and a moderate increase in pay growth, adding prospects for a Bank of England interest rate hike in November. The ILO unemployment rate stood at 4.7 percent in the June to August period compared to 4.9 percent in the preceding period.

A report released by the Commerce Department on Monday unexpectedly showed an extended nosedive in new residential construction in the U.S. in the month of September. The Commerce Department said housing starts plunged by 5.2 percent to an annual rate of 1.221 million in September after plummeting by 5.9 percent to a revised rate of 1.288 million in August.

German economic confidence deteriorated more than expected in October as private spending and investment remained weak due to high energy prices, survey results from the Mannheim-based Centre for European Economic Research, or ZEW, showed Tuesday. The economic confidence index fell to a three-month low of 28.1 in October from 34.7 in the previous month. The score was forecast to drop to 30.2.

The U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Tuesday, due to declining expectations of Federal Reserve (Fed) rate rises and worries over AI overinvestment.

A report released by the National Association of Home Builders on Monday showed a bigger-than-expected deterioration in U.S. homebuilder sentiment in the month of October. The report said the NAHB/Wells Fargo housing market index fell to 29 in October from 32 in September. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 31.

China's economic growth accelerated more than expected in the third quarter despite challenges posed by property market downturn and soft domestic demand, bolstering prospects that the government will achieve its full-year growth target without initiating more stimulus measures.Gross domestic product grew 4.5 percent on a yearly basis in the third quarter, faster than the 4.3 percent expansion s

A report released by the Federal Reserve on Friday showed industrial production in the U.S. increased by more than expected in the month of September. The Fed said industrial production climbed by 0.7 percent in September following a revised 0.1 percent uptick in August.

Import and export prices in the U.S. both increased by far more than anticipated in the month of September, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Friday. The Labor Department said import prices shot up by 1.1 percent in September after rising by a downwardly revised 0.5 percent in August.

Malaysia's economic growth moderated to one-year low in the third quarter but the overall pace of expansion remained robust as strong global demand for electronics used in artificial intelligence bolstered the manufacturing sector. Gross domestic product grew 5.3 percent in the third quarter from the last year, advance estimates from the Department of Statistics showed Friday.

Business inventories in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of August, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday. The Commerce Department said business inventories rose by 0.4 percent in August after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.9 percent in July.

New York manufacturing activity rose sharply in the month of October, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Thursday. The New York Fed said its general business conditions index surged to 25.5 in October from 7.6 in September, with a positive reading indicating growth. Economists had expected the index to rise to 10.3.

A report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on Thursday showed a steep drop by its reading on regional manufacturing activity in the month of October. The Philly Fed said its diffusion index for current general activity plunged to 20.9 in October from 37.8 in September, although a positive reading still indicates growth. Economists had expected the index to drop to 30.0.

The Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing retail sales in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in in the month of September. The report said retail sales climbed by 0.8 percent in September after surging by an upwardly revised 1.3 percent in August. Economists had expected retail sales to rise by 0.3 percent.