Bloomberg Scratch below the surface of the euro area’s dismal economic numbers and there’s a glimmer of hope that things could improve. While inflation remains in hibernation and factories are seeing orders drop, companies are continuing to hire and consumers are spending more from their rising wages. That’s why European Central Bank officials are showing reluctance to race into action …

Bloomberg German economic growth is likely to remain subdued at least through the first half of the year as deteriorating business expectations threaten to hamper company investment — yet there’s no reason for concern, according to the Bundesbank. “There are no signs that the slowdown is morphing into a downturn,” the country’s central bank said in its monthly report. Some …

Bloomberg The Pentagon will request 78 F-35 jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, six fewer than previously planned, in the budget expected to be sent to Congress next week, according to defense officials. The cutback from the 84 fighters projected a year ago for fiscal 2020 is a setback for Lockheed, the No. 1 defense contractor, even as interest in …