Euro zone companies expect wages to rise by 3% or more this year as workers demand to be compensated for inflation and it becomes more difficult to find staff such as builders and software engineers, the European Central Bank said on Friday.

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Assa Abloy, the world's biggest lockmaker, reported slightly better than expected fourth-quarter profit growth on Friday as stronger demand helped mitigate continued pandemic-related supply chain challenges.

BERLIN (Reuters) -German industrial orders grew more than expected in December, data showed on Friday, with a boost from stronger domestic demand a cause for optimism for the growth outlook of Europe's largest economy.

Upper Crust owner SSP said on Friday its revenue took a hit from restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, while saying sales were recovering after the lifting of curbs in the UK and some European markets.

(Reuters) -Upper Crust owner SSP said on Friday its sales were recovering after a slowdown in recent weeks, when fewer people travelled due to Omicron-led curbs that hit its stores at train stations and airports.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Danish brewer Carlsberg expects organic growth in operating profit to fall short of last year's level, it said on Friday after posting fourth-quarter sales above expectations.