Manpower second-quarter net falls; Europe outlook weak (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Employment services company Manpower Inc (MAN.N) said on Friday that business was slowing in large Western European markets, including France, its biggest operation, sending its shares down 11 percent. Manpower also reported lower quarterly earnings, but still topped expectations, and gave a disappointing forecast for the current period. Chief Executive Jeff Joerres said on a conference call that its business in Germany, Italy and Spain was soft. "We do believe we will see further softening in Europe in the third quarter," he said. Joerres said smaller countries like Belgium and Israel were offsetting some of the weakness, "giving us a much better glide path as we go into a potentially slower period." He said the company did not see the U.S. market gaining any strength in the near future. Milwaukee-based... [read full story]