Eurozone economic sentiment hits 32-month high

BERLIN - The 16-member eurozone’s economic recovery gained further traction in April with a key business sentiment survey released Thursday hitting a 32-month high.

The London-based economics research group Markit’s preliminary composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose more than forecast from 55.9 in March to 57.3 points in April to record its ninth consecutive monthly increase.

The increase also took the indicator, which is based on a survey of about 2,000 businesses in the service and manufacturing sectors, to its highest level since August 2007. Analysts had forecast the PMI would stagnate in April.