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French business more confident
BUSINESS confidence in France held steady in February, according to statistics agency INSEE, suggesting the economic slowdown may have bottomed out.
The business climate index stayed at 91 yesterday – below its long-term average of 100 for the sixth month in a row, but suggesting conditions are no longer deteriorating.
However Belgian consumer confidence declined sharply from minus 16 to minus 20, its lowest level since April 2009, the National Bank of Belgium said yesterday, blaming a weakening employment outlook in the export-dependent economy.