European markets boosted by stronger than expected data from China and US after a week of tensions centred on North Korea * Pound slips on uncertainty over Brexit talks * Carrefour shares plunge on profit warning * Eurozone inflation picks up; unemployment steadies * Bank of England policymaker urges interest rate rise * Gambling firm 888 fined record £7.8m for failing to protect customers 12.27pm BST GERMAN DATA THIS MORNING SHOWED THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK IN EUROPE’S LARGEST ECONOMY FELL BY 5,000 IN AUGUST TO 2.53M. It disappointed expectations, with economists forecasting a bigger fall of 6,000. The slowdown in the pace of falling unemployment is likely linked to more and more refugees starting to search for a job, as they exit training courses (e.g. language courses). This trend is likely to continue over the coming quarters, which could constrain a further improvement in the number of unemployed. 12.00pm BST Over in Greece, tourism is helping to boost economic sentiment according to the eurozone’s statistics agency, Eurostat. It comes as the country prepares to further ease capital controls. _Helena Smith reports from Athens: _ Continue reading...