STOCK MARKET WATCH - Wednesday, 1 February 2012

[Demeter]

8. Eurozone unemployment at euro-era high

Unemployment in the eurozone reached a new record last month, in a further sign of the currency bloc’s faltering economic recovery.

Joblessness in the 17 countries that use the euro rose to 10.4 per cent at year end, according to seasonally-adjusted data from the European Union’s statistical arm. The 0.1 percentage point increase from November’s estimate compares to an unemployment rate of 9.5 per cent a year earlier.

A small fall in Germany, from 5.6 to 5.5 per cent, was offset by rises in much of the debt-laden periphery of the eurozone, including a 0.4 percentage point rise in Portugal to 13.6 per cent.

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http://link.ft.com/r/IOCBMM/HYL7LT/YGZ3O/97DDR1/AMRRFS/ZH/t?a1=2012&a2=1&a3=31