Euro Zone Business Activity Unexpectedly Contracts in September, PMI Shows

MACROECONOMICS - LONDON. Euro zone business activity contracted sharply and unexpectedly this month as the bloc's dominant services industry flatlined while a downturn in manufacturing accelerated, a survey showed on Monday.

The downturn appeared broadbased with Germany, Europe's largest economy, seeing its decline deepen while France - the currency union's second biggest - returned to contraction following August's Olympics boost.