Investing.com - The euro zone’s current account surplus narrowed less-than-expected in December, official data showed on Monday.
In a report, the European Central Bank said that the euro zone current account recorded a seasonally adjusted surplus of EUR13.9 billion in December, down from a surplus of EUR15.9 billion in November, whose figure was revised up from a surplus of EUR14.8 billion.
Economists had expected the region’s current account surplus to narrow to EUR12 billion in December.
The report said that the 12-month cumulated seasonally adjusted current account recorded a surplus of EUR116.1 billion in December, around 1.2% of euro area gross domestic product, compared with a surplus of EUR8.9 billion a year earlier.
Following the release of the data, the euro held on to losses against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD shedding 0.2% to trade at 1.3335.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.25%, London’s FTSE 100 eased down 0.1%, while Germany's DAX tacked on 0.2%.
In a report, the European Central Bank said that the euro zone current account recorded a seasonally adjusted surplus of EUR13.9 billion in December, down from a surplus of EUR15.9 billion in November, whose figure was revised up from a surplus of EUR14.8 billion.
Economists had expected the region’s current account surplus to narrow to EUR12 billion in December.
The report said that the 12-month cumulated seasonally adjusted current account recorded a surplus of EUR116.1 billion in December, around 1.2% of euro area gross domestic product, compared with a surplus of EUR8.9 billion a year earlier.
Following the release of the data, the euro held on to losses against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD shedding 0.2% to trade at 1.3335.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.25%, London’s FTSE 100 eased down 0.1%, while Germany's DAX tacked on 0.2%.