London — European manufacturers began the second quarter at a brisk pace, with the eurozone’s factories increasing activity at the fastest rate in six years and Britain’s still benefiting from a weak currency, surveys showed. The upbeat surveys come ahead of presidential elections in France, the outcome of which has the potential to bring an end to the currency bloc, and as Britain prepares for a snap election ahead of Brexit. IHS Markit’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for the eurozone jumped to 56.7 in April from March’s 56.2, reaching its highest level since April 2011. The figure was one tick down from a preliminary reading of 56.8. Manufacturing growth in Germany, France and Italy, the bloc’s three biggest economies, was up near a six-year high, earlier data showed. Spanish activity accelerated. "The manufacturing sector is thus showing strong momentum at the start of (the second quarter), which is likely to carry on in the near term," said Raphael Brun-Aguerre at JP ...
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