Fuest

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The trade cease-fire between the European Union and U.S. President Donald Trump boosted optimism among German business executives heavily dependent on trade for their profits, a closely watched economic index showed Monday.

The Ifo institute index rose to 103.8 points from 101.7 in July. The result was better than the 101.8 expected by market analysts.

The president of the most influential German economic institute, IFO Clemens Fuest, is not expecting the events in Spain and the possible secession of Catalonia to lead to turbulence in the currency union, sega said.