Eurozone business growth hits 4-year high, boosted by Germany and France

Brussels

A EURO-AREA factory and services index unexpectedly rose to the highest in more than four years this month as growth gained momentum in Germany and France, the bloc's two largest economies.

Markit Economics said on Tuesday that its composite index increased to 54.1 from 53.6 in May. That's above the 50-mark that divides expansion from contraction and exceeds the median estimate of economists, who forecast it would slip to 53.5. France's gauge of the two industries climbed to the highest since 2011 and growth in Germany also strengthened.