Ifo

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The trade cease-fire between the European Union and U.S. President Donald Trump boosted optimism among German business executives heavily dependent on trade for their profits, a closely watched economic index showed Monday.

The Ifo institute index rose to 103.8 points from 101.7 in July. The result was better than the 101.8 expected by market analysts.

Confidence among German businesses eroded slightly in September, a regular survey published on Sept. 25 found, reflecting uncertainty ahead of a general election on Sept. 24 that has left Chancellor Angela Merkel facing tricky coalition talks.

German business confidence has increased dramatically in November, shrugging off the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the recent attacks in Paris, a leading economic think tank says German business confidence bounced back in November as Europe's top economy shrugged off global uncertainty and the deadly jihadist assault in Paris, a leading economic think tank said yesterday. 

German business confidence beat expectations by rising slightly in September, reflecting the continued robustness of Europe's biggest economy amid the current financial market turbulence, the Ifo economic institute said on Sept.24.