Japanese consumer confidence falls, UK industrial output rises, Chinese and German trade surpluses hit record highs

Consumer confidence in Japan deteriorated in August. A report on Tuesday showed that the consumer confidence index fell to 41.2 last month from 41.5 in July.

In the UK, a report on Tuesday showed that industrial production rose 0.5 percent in July, the most in six months, but another report showed that the goods trade deficit rose to 10.186 billion pounds in July.

In contrast, Monday had seen both China and Germany report record trade surpluses.

China's trade surplus surged to a record US$49.8 billion in August as imports fell for a second straight month while export growth slowed.

Germany's trade surplus hit a record high of 22.2 billion after exports jumped 4.7 percent while imports fell 1.8 percent.