WASHINGTON - A measure of the U.S. economy's future health rose solidly in April, buoyed by a sharp rise in applications to build homes and a better job market. The Conference Board said Friday that its index of leading indicators increased 0.6 per cent last month to a reading of 95. That followed a 0.2 per cent decline in March. The index is intended to signal economic conditions three to six months out. Conference Board economist Ken Goldstein said the index is 3.5 per cent higher at an annual rate than it was six months ago, suggesting expansion for the economy.

OTTAWA - Canada's inflation story is fast becoming one about disinflation. Statistics Canada reported Friday that the annual rate fell an astonishing six-tenths of a point to 0.4 per cent last month, the lowest it's been since October 2009, as gas prices plunged by six per cent — also the biggest drop since October 2009 — and many other consumer goods registered outright declines. The loonie fell more than a penny against the U.S. dollar in early trading as markets read the soft report as making interest rate hikes in Canada less likely and further off into the horizon.

Europe's main stock markets rebounded on Friday, with Paris jumping above 4,000 points for the first time since July 2011 as traders went bargain-hunting after earlier losses, dealers said. In late morning deals, the Paris CAC 40 rallied to 4,009.15 points, which was the highest level since July 7, 2011. It later stood at 3,992.65 points, up 0.34 percent from Thursday's close. Elsewhere, London's benchmark FTSE 100 gained 0.36 percent to 6,712.02 points, while Frankfurt's DAX 30 index won 0.14 percent to 8,380.06.

Japan's premier said Friday he would slash red tape in a bid to boost corporate investment as he seeks to capitalise on the feel-good mood of a soaraway stock market and a plunging yen. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set out broadbrush outlines of the third of his "three arrows" of a plan dubbed "Abenomics", which is intended to turn around years of deflation in the world's third-largest economy. The first two "arrows" -- a colossal government spending plan and aggressive monetary easing -- have fuelled optimism in an economy that has struggled for two decades.