iStockOn the last trading day of the week, investors were greeted with some mixed economic data as earnings season is turning out to be better than expected. U.S. retail sales for March came in stronger than forecast, notching a 1.6% gain when a Briefing.com consensus showed expectations of a 0.9% rise. In other economic data, initial U.S. jobless claims hit their lowest level since 1969, coming in at 192,000 compared to a Briefing.com consensus forecast of 208,000. IHS Markit data showed manufacturing activity in Germany and France, Europe’s two largest economies, continued to contract. Morning Roundup: Earnings and IPOsThe data come as earnings season rolls on and investors have seen generally better-than-expected results.

Source: Forbes April 18, 2019 13:41 UTC