The Investment Page: European Orders Rise

European industrial orders unexpectedly rose for a second month in December led by a surge in demand for capital goods such as machinery and equipment. Orders to industrial companies in the 16-nation euro area rose 0.8 percent from November, when they gained 2.7 percent, the European Union's statistics office said on Wednesday. The euro's 9.6 percent drop against the dollar in the past three months is making European exports more competitive just as the global economy gathers strength.