Tentative rise in business confidence

Several business confidence surveys published this week indicate that sentiment, though still weak, may have stabilised in some sectors of the economy, adding weight to the argument of those that contend the recession is reaching a nadir.

On the back of recent gains in share prices, which last week took the FTSE 100 above 4,000 points for the first time since the middle of February, there are signs of optimism. But businesses say that trading conditions are still largely fragile and that more severe job cuts are likely before the economy starts to grow again.

APA

From a report in the Independent Business section by Alistair Dawber 6th April 2009