German exports fell four times more than economists forecast in December as the sovereign debt crisis damped growth across the euro region.

Exports slumped 4.3 per cent from November, when they rose 2.6 per cent, the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden said yesterday. Economists predicted a decline of 1 per cent.

French business confidence held near its lowest level in more than two years in January on recession concerns, the Bank of France said in another report. – (Bloomberg)