Oil Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Venezuela Sanctions and Middle East Tensions Fuel Risk Premium 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Tech Rally Lifts Markets, Yen Slumps Despite BOJ Rate Hike 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip After CPI-Fueled Rally as Markets Weigh Economic Uncertainty 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Precious Metals Rally as Silver and Platinum Outperform on Rate Cut Bets 
Kevin Hassett Says Inflation Is Below Target, Backs Trump’s Call for Rate Cuts 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
The United States’ small business optimism index inched upward during the month of August, beating consensus estimates, as business owners remained optimistic about sales and are increasingly looking to expand their business.
With half of the NFIB Small Business survey’s 10 components rising in August, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Optimism Index was essentially unchanged in August, rising just 0.1 point.
The largest monthly gain was in expected future sales, which jumped 5 points to 27 percent. This component is now up 10 points in just two months. Actual sales declined slightly. Taxes remain the most pressing issue facing small business owners, while the tight labor market has risen to the second greatest issue. Thirty-one percent of owners report they have at least one open position they are unable to fill.
"With sales expected to increase and less regulatory headwinds, a growing number of business owners feel now is a good time to expand, which appears to be bolstering capital spending," Wells Fargo commented in its latest research report.
Meanwhile, FxWirePro launches Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest
