FRANKFURT, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - German business sentiment fell in September for the fifth month in a row, a widely-watched survey showed Tuesday, prompting analysts to say that the eurozone's biggest economy had clearly hit the brakes.

The trend was mirrored in eurozone neighbours Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, several also noted.

The German business climate index calculated each month by the Munich-based economic research institute Ifo fell to 104.2 points from 105.8 points in August, Ifo said.

FRANKFURT, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - German business sentiment fell in September for the fifth month in a row, a survey showed Tuesday, with analysts saying it indicated a clear downward turn in the eurozone's biggest economy.

The widely watched business climate index, calculated each month by the Munich-based economic research institute Ifo, fell to 104.2 points from 105.8 points in August, Ifo said.

The continued trend lower suggested 'a permanent change of course' for the German economy, Commerzbank analyst Ralph Solveen said.

BERLIN, Aug 28, 2007 (AFP) - A leading German business confidence indicator showed Tuesday that sentiment dipped slightly this month amid turmoil on global financial markets, but analysts said the country's economic revival remained on track.

Though the Ifo index fell for the third month in a row in August -- slipping to 105.8 points from 106.4 points in July -- the decline was smaller than feared by analysts who had forecast 105.3 points for the month.

BERLIN, Aug 28, 2007 (AFP) - Business confidence in Germany slipped again in August, but its decline was smaller than feared by analysts, according to a widely-watched index by the Ifo economic research institute published Tuesday.

The Munich-based institute said the index had fallen to 105.8 points from 106.4 points in July. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial News had forecast 105.3 points in August.

Ifo said turbulence on global financial markets had clouded executives' mood although they were generally optimistic about the economic upswing in Germany.