German business confidence unexpectedly increased for a sixth month in April, adding to evidence that Europe’s largest economy can weather the resurgent sovereign debt crisis. The Munich-based Ifo institute said today its business climate index, based on a survey of 7,000 executives, rose to 109.9 from 109.8 in March. Economists forecast a drop to 109.5, according to the median of 40 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The German economy, which contracted in the final quarter of last year as the debt crisis damped demand for its goods in Europe, may have avoided a recession. Companies have increased sales to ... (full story)