A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Thursday:
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BERLIN — The European Central Bank left its key interest rate at a record-low 1 percent, staying on hold even as more positive news underscored the most upbeat economic backdrop in months.
Germany%27s DAX closed up 2.25 points at 6,333.58, while the CAC-40 in France rose 3.47 points to 3,764.19. However, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares ended 0.4 percent lower.
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ATHENS, Greece — Greece has made "remarkable" progress implementing an austerity program to tackle its debt crisis and is expected to receive the second installment of rescue loans next month, the IMF and EU said. They warned, however, that the country still faces significant challenges.
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LONDON — The Bank of England kept its base rate at an all-time low of 0.5 percent amid fears that Britain%27s economic recovery may falter in coming months.
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TOKYO — Japan%27s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index gained 1.7 percent to 9,653.92, with shares boosted by gains in automakers after Toyota reported a quarterly profit of 190.5 billion yen ($2.2 billion) and raised its annual profit forecast.
Australia%27s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.5 percent and Hong Kong%27s Hang Seng closed flat. South Korea%27s Kospi slipped 0.3 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.7 percent.
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DUBLIN — Ireland%27s unemployment rate reached a 16-year high of 13.7 percent as idle university students and laid-off professionals joined the welfare lines, the Central Statistics Office reported.
Economists said July%27s rise from the previous monthly rate of 13.4 percent was sharper than expected. The government said it reflected, in part, a surge of welfare claims from university students who have failed to find summer jobs.
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MADRID — Spain sold euro3.5 billion ($4.62 billion) in three-year bonds at a lower interest than the last auction in June, another indicator of increasing investor confidence in the economy.
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BERLIN — German industrial orders returned to strong growth in June after a slight decline the previous month.
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand%27s unemployment rate rises to 6.8 percent in the second quarter, unwinding gains in the previous three months.