MW: Euro-zone Jan. industrial production jumps 1.7%
By William L. Watts
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Industrial production across the 16-nation euro zone jumped 1.7% in January, the European Union statistics agency Eurostat reported Friday. Compared to the same month last year, production rose 1.4%. Economists surveyed last week by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a 0.7% monthly rise. Expectations for a strong number had risen, however, after the release of stronger-than-expected national data from Italy and France earlier this week. The euro rallied ahead of the data release and changed hands at $1.3763 in recent action, a gain of 0.7% on the day.
