A survey has shown that business activity in the euro zone improved unexpectedly in February.
Provisional results from NTC Research's survey gave a reading of 52.7 points, up from 51.8 in January and halting a steady decline in the index. Economists had expected another fall. Any figure above 50 signals growth.
The overall improvement was driven by an upturn in the vast service sector, where the index rose to 52.3 in February, having almost slumped into contraction in January at 50.6. But manufacturing sector activity slumped to a four-month low of 52.3.
Economists said that although the overall improvement in business activity provided some relief about the euro zone's outlook, the economy was undeniably losing steam.
