Economic prospects

SINGAPORE:

The rapid economic ascent of China and India is fueling Asia’s growth, but Islamic terrorism remains a threat to stability in the region, Singapore’s leader said. At a business conference on Monday, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong also said Japan’s emergence from a decade of stagnation was a cause for optimism. He said Singapore must take advantage of regional opportunities by pushing research and development, making it more than just an efficient production centre. — AP

Business confidence

BERLIN:

German business confidence improved unexpectedly in September, but executives’ outlook appeared to darken after the country’s election failed to produce a conclusive result, a closely watched survey stated. The Ifo institute’s index, a key indicator for Europe’s largest economy, climbed to 96.0 points from 94.6 in August — AP