Germany's Economy Ministry released factory orders data on Thursday. German seasonal adjusted factory orders dropped 2.4% in November, missing expectations for a 0.6% decline, after a 2.9% increase in October. October's figure was revised up from a 2.5% gain.

That was the first decline in three months.

Domestic orders plunged 4.7% in November, while foreign orders fell 0.7%.

These figures show the slow recovery of confidence largest euro area economy.

Germany's Economy Ministry said that prospects for an increase in new orders in the fourth quarter are "overall good".