French preliminary Q3 GDP rose 0.14% quarter on quarter and 0.6% year on year, better than the consensus estimates of -0.1% and 0.4% respectively. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, speaking on RTL radio, probably took some satisfaction in announcing “France is technically not in recession.” That’s as maybe Christine. Enjoy the moment, because it’s only a matter of time. Meanwhile EUR/USD has slipped lower in early European trade, presently down at 1.2720 from an early 1.2745.