Cold comfort as France, Germany eke out growth | Reuters.
(Reuters) – European stocks were flat on Friday after gross domestic product numbers showed both France and Germany grew marginally in the third quarter, while the dollar rose further against the yen on expectations of a snap election in Japan.
The European data confirmed that the outlook for much of the world economy still looks much shakier than for the United States, although France beat expectations. Asian stocks fell following the latest signs that growth in China is slowing.
Energy stocks were depressed as crude oil hovered near a four-year low in an oversupplied market and the Russian ruble, hammered in recent weeks as world oil prices fell, was again testing record lows around 48 rubles per dollar.
Germany’s economy eked out growth of 0.1 percent on the quarter, while France – generally seen as in deeper trouble than its neighbor – grew by 0.3 percent. Overall euro zone data was due later.
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