Italy industrial production up 0.4pc

MILAN, May 10 (AFP): Italian industrial production inched up 0.4 per cent in March from the February level in line with analyst expectations while the rise was 3.1 per cent on a 12-month comparison, official data released on Tuesday showed. Production had fallen by 1.7 per cent in January from December and bounced back by 1.5 per cent a month later. The March result was pushed up by growth in the machine-building sector-up 2.7 per cent over the month-and pharmaceuticals up 1.7 per cent.