US DATA: Aug NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism gained 0.7 pts
to 88.8. “Most of the improvement was accounted for by gains in expected
real sales and expectations for business conditions six months out, the
two components that lowered the index in July. But despite their
improvements, both measures are still in recession territory.” Most
still expect H2 to see sub-par growth and plans to incr employment and
capX both fell.