BRUSSELS, Dec 19 - The euro zone's trade surplus widened in October to 9.7 billion euros from September's revised figure of 9.2 billion euros, official data showed on Friday. The figures from EU statistics agency Eurostat were above analysts forecasts, which centred on an October surplus of 8.0 billion euros. The September data was revised up from a surplus of 8.5 billion euros. Exports fell 0.6 percent in October on a monthly basis, while imports rose 0.9 percent. Compared with October 2002, both exports and imports were down three percent.
The rise of the euro to record highs against the dollar has spurred fears that euro zone exports will suffer. However, the European Commission and the European Central Bank have so far expressed few worries about the euro's exchange rate rise, although they have said that a volatile currency or a too rapid appreciation would be unwelcome. But business has been less sanguine. The president of Germany's influential BDI industry federation was quoted as saying this week that the euro was overvalued and was hurting export markets.//