Charles Michel says peace progress in Caucasus ‘encouraging’
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel told AnewZ TV he is “confident” in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process, as experts po...
U.S. small-business confidence reached its highest level in nearly 3-1/2 years in November, driven by post-election euphoria. According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Small Business Optimism Index surged as owners became more optimistic about the economy and expansion
U.S. small-business confidence surged to its highest level in nearly 3-1/2 years in November, buoyed by post-election optimism. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported on Tuesday that its Small Business Optimism Index jumped by 8.0 points to 101.7 last month, the highest since June 2021. Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race and his Republican Party’s control of the U.S. Congress in the recent elections were expected to boost confidence among small business owners, who traditionally lean Republican. Other sentiment surveys, including the University of Michigan’s, have also seen improvements in the aftermath of the November 5 election, albeit divided along party lines.
The proportion of small business owners expecting the economy to improve surged by 41 points to 36%, the largest increase since June 2020. The number saying now is a good time to expand their business reached levels last seen nearly 3-1/2 years ago. More businesses anticipated higher sales growth, while the share of those naming inflation as their main concern fell.
The survey’s uncertainty index dropped by 12 points from a record high of 110 in October. Labor remains tight in small businesses, especially in sectors like transportation, construction, and professional services. The proportion of businesses planning to hire more workers increased by 3 points to 18%, the highest in a year. Around 32% of owners reported raising compensation, up one point from October. The share planning to increase pay over the next three months jumped 5 points to 28%, the highest level this year. About 28% planned price hikes, up 2 points from October.
"Wage hikes are essential to maintaining current employment levels and helping to fill vacancies," said Bill Dunkelberg, the chief economist at the NFIB.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
Türkiye has emerged as Europe’s largest steel producer and the world’s seventh largest in the first eight months of 2025, producing 36.9 million tonnes last year, according to sector officials.
Germany’s Adidas increased its full-year profit guidance, saying it managed to cushion some of the extra expenses resulting from higher U.S. tariffs.
Germany’s Adidas on Tuesday raised its full-year operating profit forecast, saying it had successfully offset part of the additional costs caused by higher U.S. tariffs.
New Zealand's annual inflation accelerated in the third quarter, reaching 3.0%, which aligns with analysts' expectations and is at the upper end of the central bank's target range, according to official data released on Monday.
On Sunday, the Netherlands' Economy Minister, Vincent Karremans, stated that he expects to meet with a Chinese government official in the coming days to discuss how to resolve the standoff over Nexperia NV, a computer chip maker whose issues are threatening global automotive supply chains.
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