Industrial production activity across Euro
Zone countries indicated a contraction for a fifth straight month. Purchasing
Managers' Index in December climbed to 46.9, rebounding from 28-month record low
of 46.4 in November. The reading shows that production activity continued to
decline but at slower pace than before. PMI survey confirms European manufacturers
are highly concerned with domestic demand, pointed out Howard Archer, IHS
Global Insight's chief economist.