French October Business Confidence Unexpectedly Ticks Higher
The Les Halles shopping area in Paris.
Photographer: Nathan Laine/BloombergFrench business confidence unexpectedly inched higher in October, driven by improvements in the manufacturing and retail sectors.
A measure of sentiment rose to 97, the highest level since April, according to data published Thursday by statistics agency Insee. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected another reading of 96 — a level it has been at since June.