The downturn in euro zone business activity eased in February, suggesting signs of recovery, as the dominant services sector broke a six-month streak of contraction and offset a deterioration in manufacturing, a survey showed.

China's January new home prices fell for the seventh straight month, official data showed on Friday, even as policymakers stepped up support to restore confidence in the debt-ridden sector.

U.S. new vehicle sales are expected to rise 1.4% in February from a year earlier, driven by robust demand and a better supply of vehicles, according to a joint report by industry consultants J.D. Power and GlobalData on Thursday.

U.S. business activity cooled in February and there was encouraging news on inflation, with a measure of prices paid for inputs falling to the lowest level in nearly 3-1/2 years, which could allay fears that price pressures were picking up.

U.S. existing home sales increased to a five-month high in January as declining mortgage rates pulled in buyers from the sidelines, but tight supply remains a challenge.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting that job growth likely remained solid in February.