Eurozone pickup calms French election jitters

The eurozone’s accelerating economy is translating into faster job creation and stronger inflation pressures as a key gauge of activity yesterday rose to a near six-year high in March, and employment increased the most since July 2007, with hiring picking up in services and manufacturing. 

The pickup has eased market fears over the looming French election.

The jump in the headline IHS Markit Purchasing Managers Index compared with economists’ expectation for a decline and the latest reading is in line with a quarterly economic expansion of 0.6%.