By Geoffrey Smith
Investing.com -- German business confidence improved surprisingly strongly in December as the risk of gas rationing receded and supply chain bottlenecks continued to ease, according to a closely-watched business survey.
The research institute Ifo said its business climate index rose to 88.6 from an upwardly revised 86.4 in November, with both of the two sub-indices rising. The expectations index rose to 83.2 from a two-year low of 80.2, while the assessment of current conditions rose to 94.4 from 93.2.
"German business is entering the holiday season with a sense of hope," the think-tank wrote in a release accompanying its report.