Euro zone corporate lending shrinks at record pace in Nov

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Lending to companies in the euro zone contracted at the fastest pace on record in November, piling pressure on the European Central Bank to do more to revive the currency bloc's economy.

Speculation on France's Rating Persists

PARIS—French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said Wednesday that a credit-ratings downgrade wouldn't be "cataclysmic," further fueling market expectations that the government is preparing for an imminent loss of its cherished triple-A ranking.