France News

Marc Jacobs’s departure from Louis Vuitton to focus on an initial public offering of his own brand is set to provide a double boost for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the owner of both luxury fashion labels.

Blackstone Group LP raised more than $4 billion in 2009 to buy European property assets anticipating that cash-strapped banks would be forced to sell as the region’s debt crisis worsened. Almost all of it sat idle for two years.

Euro-area services output expanded more than initially estimated in September, as the 17-nation currency bloc’s economic recovery gained momentum.