China's inflation slows, Japan's leading index falls

Economic data on Friday were mixed.

China's inflation rate fell to 1.8 percent in April, the lowest level in 18 months and down from 2.4 percent in March.

Japan's coincident index rose to 114.0 in March from 112.9 in February but the leading index fell to a 12-month low of 106.5 from 108.7.

In Germany, exports fell 1.8 percent in March, the second consecutive decline, while imports fell 0.9 percent.

In the UK, manufacturing production rose 0.5 percent in March but industrial production fell 0.1 percent as oil and gas extraction plunged. Construction output fell 1.0 percent in March. The trade deficit narrowed in March as exports rose 4.9 percent while imports rose 2.8 percent.