French lawmaker says 'unavoidable' to scrap deficit target : Les Echos

(Reuters) - The head of France's ruling Socialist party told Les Echos newspaper on Wednesday that it was "unavoidable" that France would abandon an EU target to cut its public deficit to 3 percent of GDP next year.

Euro-Zone Business Activity Slows

Business activity in the euro zone slowed more sharply in May than first estimated, a sign that weak prices are undermining the area's recovery from its debt crisis.

Euro zone first-quarter growth disappoints, puts pressure on ECB to act

(Reuters) - The euro zone economy grew much less than expected at the start of the year and inflation remained locked in the 'danger zone' below 1 percent, increasing pressure on the European Central Bank to ease monetary policy at its next meeting in June.

France and Germany rebuild ties but EU waits for old axis

Brussels (AFP) - With France and Germany apparently patching up their economic differences, their decades-old axis could retake its place at the heart of Europe, but analysts are waiting for actions to back up the rhetoric.

France on edge of return to recession, increasing pressure on Hollande

François Hollande's beleaguered socialist government was under increased pressure to boost the eurozone's second largest economy after a collapse in manufacturing orders tonight left it on the cusp of another recession.

France enters recession; Hollande under pressure

PARIS: President Francois Hollande holds a key press conference on Thursday, a day after his first anniversary in office was marred by news that holland France had fallen back into recession amid plummeting economic indicators.

French Economy to Stay Stalled in First Half, Insee Predicts

The French economy will extend two years of stagnation in the first half as consumers hold off on spending and companies cut investments, national statistics office Insee predicted.

The euro crisis no one is talking about: France is in free fall

FORTUNE -- Given investors' confidence in its sovereign debt, and its image as Germany's principal partner in the sturdy, sensible "northern" eurozone, you'd think that France endures as the co-guardian of the endangered single currency.

French Economy Stagnates as State Spending Prevents Recession

The French economy will fail to grow in the second half, extending stagnation to five quarters, national statistics office Insee predicted yesterday.

French Bank Links to Euro Crisis Add Sovereign Worry, IMF Says

French banks’ exposure to Europe’s sovereign debt crisis has heightened concern about France’s own top-notch AAA credit rating, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Moody’s Investors Service said today in a separate statement that it may cut the credit ratings of BNP Paribas SA, France’s biggest bank, and local rivals Societe Generale SA and Credit Agricole SA because of their investments in Greece.