Both developments put a more positive spin on Germany as a business location than it has enjoyed for a while, and offset somewhat the news that during June the business climate index measured by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research fell by an unexpectedly dramatic 1.4 points.
Hewlett-Packard this afternoon reported slightly better-than-expected results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended October 31, but the good news was offset by weaker-than-expected guidance for the fiscal first quarter ending in January and for all of FY 2012.