Bloomberg U.S. construction spending advanced in March to its highest level in more than eight years. Gains in home building and nonresidential construction offset a drop in government projects. Construction spending rose 0.3 percent in March after a 1 percent gain in February, the Commerce Department said on Monday. The back-to-back increases raised total spending to a seasonally adjusted …

  Berlin / Bloomberg Hugo Boss AG, the embattled German fashion retailer, reported its biggest drop in quarterly profit in at least six years and said it considers closing stores to reduce costs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other items declined 29 percent to 93.5 million euros ($108 million) in the first quarter, the Metzingen, Germany-based company …

  Frankfurt / AFP Lufthansa shares nosedived on Tuesday after the German airline said one-off effects and price pressures pushed it into a loss in the first three months of the year. Lufthansa shares were among the biggest losers in morning trade on the Frankfurt stock exchange, shedding nearly six percent in a market that was down by around 1.4 …