The Ifo Business Climate Index for industry and trade in Germany rose to 105.5 points in December from 104.7 points last month. Positive assessments of the current business situation remained unchanged. The outlook for the months ahead continued to brighten. Dropping oil prices and a falling euro exchange rate are seasonal gifts to the German economy. In manufacturing the business climate continued to improve. Firms only slightly scaled back their assessments of the current business situation. After three months of negative figures, the business outlook for the next half year turned positive again in December. ... (full story)