Euro-Area Companies Downbeat on Trade and Political Tension
- IHS Markit’s expectations index is weakest since end of 2014
- Private sector is slowing in Germany, contracting in Italy
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Euro-area companies entered the final stretch of 2018 the most despondent in almost four years, burdened by protectionism and sliding markets.
IHS Markit’s Purchasing Manager’s Index for manufacturing and services fell to 53.1 in October, the worst since September 2016, and a gauge of the business outlook fared even worse.