German exports and investments fell in the first quarter as French exports declined, too, for the second quarter in a row.
The number of initial jobless claims fell 4,000 to 323,000, and the key four-week moving average also declined.
The bank also maintained its purchase of 375 billion pounds ($584 billion) of debt after the UK narrowly avoided a triple-dip recession.
U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open on Thursday ahead of the publication of the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims data.
France's economy fell into recession in the first quarter, according to figures set to be released on Wednesday.
The European Commission attempted to stress growth in its forecast, albeit in a pretty pessimistic way.
No, the current U.S. job market is not “a jungle out there.” But it’s close.
Job increases for March and February were revised substantially higher, while the unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent.
Also, through the first four months of 2013, the pace of downsizing is virtually equal to a year ago.
Will Friday’s jobs report validate concerns that the U.S. economy is slumping for the fourth straight spring?
Analysts expected private employers to create 158,000 jobs last month. They got 75 percent of that forecast.
The euro zone jobless rate grew to 12.1 percent in March. Youth unemployment, especially in the south, rose to an appalling level.
Americans are expected to keep annualized auto sales above 15 million, thanks to sweet interest rates and high trade-in values.
Monetary policies will also be in play, with European Central Bank and U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meetings on the calendar.
Most economists expect the economy to slow in the second quarter, due to the $85 billion sequester.
Fewer Americans filed for new unemployment benefits in the latest week, as the U.S. labor market continues to slowly improve.
Spain's unemployment rate is already higher than what the IMF said it would peak at in 2013.
China's real estate market is probably overheating, but Chinese buyers generally pay cash and defaults are still rare.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has laid out ambitious plans for his first term, despite being indicted for war crimes.
The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week, signaling little improvement in a soft U.S. labor market.
Recession remains a huge risk for large economies, according to new assessments by the IMF.
Some Labour MPs and others allege that Thatcher's policies not only hurt their own particular constituents, but people across Britain.