Retail sales in Germany shrank 2.2 percent month-over-month in September of 2020, following a 3.1 percent rise in August and much worse than market expectations of a 0.8 percent decline. Year-on-year, retail sales jumped 6.5 percent, compared to forecasts of 6.6 percent. Sales increased for food, beverages and tobacco (6.8 percent), supermarkets, self-service department shops and hypermarkets (7 percent), non-food (6.5 percent), namely internet and mail order business (21.2 percent), furniture, household appliances and building materials (11.1 percent). In contrast, trade in textiles, clothing, shoes and leather goods as well as the retail trade in department stores did not yet return to the previous year's level (-7.3 percent). Sales were 2.8 percent higher than in February, before the pandemic.

Stock futures in Europe pointed to sharp losses at the open on Friday as investors remain concerned about mounting coronavirus infections and restrictions and become anxious ahead of the presidential election next week. Investors also await GDP growth figures for Germany, the Euro Area, Spain and Italy. The French economy expanded at a record 18.2%, faster than expected.

Switzerland's retail sales increased 0.3 percent from a year earlier in September 2020, the least since April, slowing from an upwardly revised 4.0 percent gain in the previous month. Food, beverages and tobacco trade rose 5.1 percent (vs 8.4 percent in August) while non-food sales fell 2.0 percent (vs 2.2 percent in August). On a monthly basis, retail trade dropped 3.6 percent, after a downwardly revised 0.7 percent decline in August.

Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose sharply to 3.6 percent in the September quarter of 2020 from 2.8 percent in the previous period, a preliminary estimate showed. This was the highest jobless rate since the June quarter of 2004, as the COVID-19 crisis took a huge toll on the economy. The jobless rate increased for both residents (4.7 percent vs 3.8 percent in Q2) and citizens (4.9 percent vs 4 percent). Total employment decreased by 26,900, much lower than the previous quarter (-103,800), with both manufacturing and construction sectors falling, while the services sector picking up, mainly in community, social & personal services, and food & beverage services. Meantime, some 9,100 workers were laid off, compared with 8,130 in Q2. The retrenchments rose in manufacturing and services, and primarily in arts, entertainment & recreation, and Air transport, which continues to be affected by the outbreak.

Turkey's trade deficit widened to USD 4.83 billion in September of 2020 from USD 1.67 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year. Exports went up 4.8 percent to USD 16.01 billion, with increases seen in mining & quarrying (14.6 percent), manufacturing (4.4 percent) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (12 percent). Imports jumped 23.0 percent to USD 20.84 billion, due to intermediate (19.4 percent), capital (46.7 percent) and consumer goods (23 percent). Considering the first nine months of the year, the trade deficit widened to USD 37.87 billion from USD 21.09 billion as exports plunged 10.9 percent while imports rose 1.5 percent.

The Nationwide House Price Index in the UK increased 5.8 percent year-on-year in October 2020, the highest since January 2015 and beating market consensus of a 5.2 percent rise.“ “Data suggests that the economic recovery has lost momentum in recent months with economic growth slowing sharply to 2.1% in August, down from 6.4% in July, despite a strong boost to the hospitality sector from the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which has since expired." Robert Gardner, Nationwide's Chief Economist, said. “The outlook remains highly uncertain and will depend heavily on how the pandemic and the measures to contain it evolve as well as the efficacy of policy measures implemented to limit the damage to the wider economy. Behavioural shifts as a result of Covid-19 may provide support for housing market activity, while the stamp duty holiday will continue to provide a near term boost by bringing purchases forward.", he added. On a monthly basis, the index rose 0.8 percent.

Oil prices fell around 2% on Friday, as investors were skeptical toward a recovery in global fuel demand following a resurgent of COVID-19 cases in the US and across Europe. Sentiment was also dragged down by news that British energy giant BP will shut its Australia's 65-year old refinery in Perth, and convert the site into a fuel import terminal instead, saying the refining business was no longer economically viable. Adding to bearish sentiment was the resumption of Libya’s oil exports, which will add more than 1 million barrels per day to an already oversupplied market. Meanwhile, data from both API and EIA showed a bigger-than-expected build in US oil stock. At around 06:15 AM GMT, WTI crude tumbled 2% to $35.45 a barrel, while Brent crude plunged 2.1% to $36.85 a barrel.

Japan tumbled 9.9 percent year-on-year in September 2020, compared to market consensus of an 8.6 percent fall and after a 9.1 percent drop a month earlier, pointing to the 15th straight month of decline. New construction starts decreased further for owned (-7 percent vs -8.8 percent in August), rented (-14.8 percent vs -6.4 percent), built for sale (-7.8 percent vs -15.9 percent), prefabricated (-13.6 percent vs -14.5 percent), and two-by-four (-13.2 percent vs -16.6 percent). At the same time, new starts for issued rose much softer (37.3 percent vs 147.7 percent).

The final demand producer price index in Australia rose by 0.4 percent quarter-on-quarter in the three months to September 2020, after a 1.2 percent fall in the previous period, as the economy recovered further from the COVID-19 crisis. There were rises in prices received for: child care services (48.7 percent), petroleum refining and petroleum fuel manufacturing (10.7 percent), and commercial fishing (12.5 percent). Partially offsetting the rises were computer and electronic equipment (-7.1 percent), other transport equipment (-6 percent), and clothing manufacturing (-8.4 percent). Through the year to the third quarter, the index fell by 0.4 percent, the second straight quarter of decrease since the first quarter 2010.