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PARIS (Reuters) - The French economy contracted much less than expected at the end of last year, official data released on Friday showed, as the growing prospect of a new lockdown wipes out hopes for a recovery early this year.
FILE PHOTO: A man walks his dog past a commercial space for rent in a street in Nantes, France, November 10, 2020. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
The euro zone’s second-biggest economy shrank 1.3% in the final three months of last year after France entered a second coronavirus lockdown in October to contain a second wave of infections, the INSEE statistics agency said.
The French economy contracted much less than expected at the end of last year, official data released on Friday showed, as the growing prospect of a new lockdown wipes out hopes for a recovery early this year.
Annual retail turnover still up 9.4% Australian banks card spending data point to pick up in January Retail sales seen contributing to Dec qtr GDP growth- economists (Adds economist comment, A$ reax)
SYDNEY, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Australian retailers suffered their biggest sales drop in eight months in December, recoiling after consumers brought forward their Christmas shopping although timely card spending data by banks point to a rebound in the New Year.
The 4.2% month-on-month drop in sales was spread across five of the six retail categories, led by household goods, department stores and clothing, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported on Friday.
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FOREX-Dollar drops as progress on U.S. stimulus, Brexit deals sour safety bid Reuters 12/17/2020 By Kevin Buckland Pound hits 2 1/2-year high as EU chief says agreement closer Bitcoin rises to all-time high above $22,000 Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E By Kevin Buckland TOKYO, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The dollar set fresh 2-1/2-year lows against major peers including the British pound and euro on Thursday as progress toward agreeing a U.S. stimulus package and a Brexit deal boosted risk appetite at the expense of the safest assets. Congressional negotiators were closing in on a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill, lawmakers and aides said on Wednesday, with the tone the most positive it s been in months. Across the Atlantic, the European Union s chief executive said a deal with the UK was nearer, although success wasn t guaranteed. As the world gets more optimistic about the outlook for growth in 2021, the dollar has so