IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Investor confidence

Investor confidence in Germany unexpectedly fell in April on concern faster inflation, a stronger euro and fallout from the US housing recession will hurt company earnings.

The ZEW Center for European Economic Research said its index of investor and analyst expectations declined to minus 40.7 from minus 32 in March. The gauge reached a 15-year low of minus 41.6 in January.

French inflation

French inflation accelerated in March, reaching the fastest pace in at least 12 years, after energy and food costs surged.

Consumer prices climbed by an annual 3.5 percent, up from a rate of 3.2 percent in February, Insee, the national statistics bureau, said yesterday. That's the fastest pace since 1996, when Insee began reporting the data.

Infosys sales

Infosys Technologies Ltd, India's second-largest software-services provider, forecast sales growth will accelerate this year, joining Accenture Ltd in predicting the US slowdown will spur clients to send more work overseas.

Revenue may rise as much as 21 percent to a record 202.1 billion rupees ($5.1 billion) in the 12 months ending March 31 from 166.9 billion rupees.

Burberry sales up

Burberry Group Plc, the luxury-goods maker whose founder created gabardine fabric, said second-half sales growth accelerated on purchases of $2,195 metal-studded Warrior handbags and expanded selling space.

Sales climbed 19 percent to 546 million pounds ($1.1 billion) in the six months through March from 458 million pounds a year earlier, the company said yesterday.

Agencies

(China Daily 04/16/2008 page17)