Employment hopes as firms in EU step up hiring

Eurozone companies stepped up hiring as manufacturing and services activity from Germany to Spain expanded faster than economists estimated.

A gauge of employment in both industries rose in January to a level not exceeded since mid-2011, data from London-based Markit Economics showed on Wednesday.

A Purchasing Managers’ Index increased to 52.6 from 51.4 in December, exceeding a January 23 preliminary reading of 52.2.