Eurozone businesses recovery ends year on high

Eurozone businesses ended the year on a high as new orders surged, but the chasm between a resurgent Germany and wilting France has widened this month, surveys showed.

Markit’s Flash Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index, which gauges business activity across thousands of firms, rose to 52.1 in December from 51.7 last month.

It was the second-highest reading since mid-2011 and beat the median forecast for 51.9. The index has been above the 50 mark that denotes growth for all the second half.