Eurozone private sector barely grows amid trade threats 

European growth has been hobbled by political turmoil in its two biggest member-states Germany and France, with heightened uncertainty from the war in Ukraine to persistent threats of US trade tariffs

German chancellor Olaf Scholz: Germany is performing slightly better ahead of Sunday’s election. 

Business activity in the euro area hardly grew again in February, reinforcing fears the bloc remains mired in stagnation amid increasing concerns over a trade war with the US.

The Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) by S&P Global held at 50.2, just above the 50 threshold separating expansion from contraction. Analysts had predicted a reading of 50.5.