Eurozone consumer confidence strengthened for the first time in five months during August, preliminary data from the European Commission revealed Friday. The flash consumer confidence index for the euro area rose to -6.8 from July's -7.1. Economists had expected a -6.9 reading. The consumer confidence index for the EU also climbed in August, gaining 0.3 points to -4.6. The European Commission is set to release the detail data along with the economic sentiment figures on August 28. (full story)