While Germany continued to lead the upturn, businesses in Spain and Ireland grew at their fastest pace since before the financial crisis. Survey compiler Markit said the Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index pointed to second-quarter growth of 0.5 percent, which would be the strongest in three years. The data will come as a relief to the European Central Bank, which has so far shrugged off calls for extra stimulus through another interest rate cut or outright asset purchases.