Australian Business Confidence Jumps to Highest in Seven Years

Australian business confidence surged to the highest level since 2010 and firms’ conditions advanced further, signaling economic growth could accelerate.

The sentiment index jumped seven points to 13 last month, according to a National Australia Bank Ltd. survey of more than 400 firms conducted April 21-28. The business conditions gauge -- a measure of hiring, sales and profits -- climbed to 14 from a revised 12, driven mainly by employment, NAB said.