INSTANT VIEW-Markit Sept Eurozone final services PMI 48.4

LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Euro zone services activity held near a five-year low in September as business confidence slumped, while price pressures eased, a survey confirmed on Friday.


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KEY NUMBERS

SEPT FLASH AUG SEPT 07

Services PMI 48.4 48.2 48.5 54.2

Composite PMI 46.9 47.0 48.2 54.7


REUTERS POLL (SERVICES): 48.2 (range 47.9-48.3, 34 forecasts)

REUTERS POLL (COMPOSITE): 47.0 (range 46.9-47.0, 13 forecasts)


KEY POINTS

* Services business expectations at 10-year survey low

* Composite index at lowest since November 2001


ANALYST VIEWS


CHRIS WILLIAMSON, CHIEF ECONOMIST AT DATA COMPILER MARKIT

'With the recent financial crisis adding to woes about the economy, business confidence slumped to a 10-year record low in September, suggesting continued weakness is likely in coming months.'

'Problems were by no means confined to the financial sector, with a broad-based downturn evident in all main sectors.'

'Inflationary pressures appear to have peaked, however, with prices charged rising at the weakest pace since early 2006 as companies offered discounts to stimulate sales.'



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(Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Keywords: PMI SERVICES/EUROPE [e-mail] jlw COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.