The eurozone's business sector continued to enjoy broad, albeit softening, growth in March.

With the composite PMI edging down to 53.1 from 53.3 in February. Services PMI slipped to 52.2 from 52.6. Irish composite PMI hit a seven-year high and France a 31-month peak, but German growth softened. Still, the eurozone business sector enjoyed its best quarter for three years in Q1, and the surveys indicate GDP growth of 0.5%.European shares were mixed at the time of writing ahead of an ECB policy announcement later today, when the central bank is expected to keep interest rates at 0.25%. There are some hopes that the bank could take easing measures to ensure that the eurozone doesn't slip into deflation. Asian shares were also mixed, while U.S. stock futures were higher.