Stagnation in EU points to deficient Investment - Feb 16 2005

In recent months, the main stumbling block to a sustained recovery in Europe has been the reluctance of companies to invest and hire workers despite rising profits as a result of recent restructuring and buoyant exports to the rest of the world. German companies, in particular, have been slow to invest at home, despite their success in sellin machine tools and cars to Asia and North America recently.