France plans to beef up labor reforms

(Reuters) - The French government will press ahead cautiously with controversial labor reforms making it easier to fire staff, as it seeks to fight unemployment by making the job market more flexible, officials said on Tuesday.

European Stocks Post Fifth Weekly Gain; SBM Shares Surge

European stocks rose for a fifth week, posting the longest stretch of weekly gains in four months, as investors awaited developments in U.S. budget negotiations to avoid automatic tax hikes and spending cuts.