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Existing homes sales in December declined for the eleventh month in a row and dropped to the lowest level not seen since November 2010 to 4.02 million units, 34% lower than a year ago.

The People's Bank of China left its key one-year Loan Prime Rate unchanged for the fifth month in a row at 3.65% and the five-year reference rate for mortgages at 4.3%.

Baltic Exchange's Dry Bulk Index, a measure of worldwide ocean freight cost, plunged 8.8% to a 30-month low to 801 ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday period in China.

Wholesale price inflation in Germany slowed to 21.6% in December from 28.2% in November and fell to the lowest level in thirteen months, the Federal Statistical Office said Friday.

Japan's inflation in December surged to 4.0% from a year ago to the highest level since 1991 on the yen weakness and a surge in international commodities prices.