PARIS - Weak economic data across the eurozone pushed European stocks lower Wednesday, as news hit that the 17-country currency bloc is now in its longest-ever recession. Europe's economic motor, Germany, returned to growth but still disappointed. Its gross domestic product rose 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year. That's less than the 0.3 per cent rise analysts were expecting. Meanwhile, the French economy, the bloc's second-largest, fell back into recession.

US stocks closed at new all-time highs following a choppy day of trading Wednesday as investors shrugged off more economic gloom from the eurozone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 60.44 (0.40 percent) to 15,275.69, setting a new record closing high for the second day in a row. The broad-based S&P 500 added 8.44 (0.51 percent) at 1,658.78, its fourth straight day of record closes, while the Nasdaq Composite Index increased 9.01 (0.26 percent) to 3,471.62. All three indices rose through the early afternoon, then retreated somewhat before staging a late rally.

Canadian home prices continued to rise in April even as year-over-year sales fell three per cent, according to the latest industry data that has left economists divided over whether the market can count on a soft landing. "I think some people are perhaps confused by the fact that we've seen a drop in sales but prices haven't fallen yet," said David Madani, an economist at Capital Economics.

Brussels, May 15 (EFE).- The Eurozone's gross domestic product contracted 0.20 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared to the prior three-month period, while the European Union's GDP declined 0.10 percent during the January-March period, Eurostat said Wednesday. The countries in the single-currency zone registered a drop of 0.60 percent in their GDP in the last quarter of 2012, while the GDP of the 27-member EU fell 0.50 percent during the final three months of last year.