LIVE MARKETS-Small businesses increase tech spending
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com
SMALL BUSINESSES INCREASE TECH SPENDING
Small businesses ramped up technology spending in February, likely to boost productivity as payrolls shrank, according to the Bank of America Institute.
Bank of America data shows small business tech spending rose more than 14% last month, hitting its strongest level since the bank began tracking it in January 2024. The Institute's Liz Everett Krisberg and David Tinsley said it appeared to be "a productivity push as small firms look to streamline operations."
Business applications have trended upward since early 2025, but those with planned wages have fallen — a sign firms are adapting to uncertainty while still prioritizing growth, they added.
Small business profitability also improved, rising 1.2% year over year to its strongest reading since March 2025. Hiring showed tentative signs of stabilizing, with payments to recruiting firms rising even as payroll growth per client remained negative.
(Karen Brettell)
EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:
WELLS FARGO STRATEGIST FAVORS REBALANCING OVER GOLD, OIL BETS AMID IRAN WAR CLICK HERE
OIL SHOCKS HIT US ECONOMY LESS HARD, BUT INFLATION RISK LINGERS CLICK HERE
ENERGY, FINANCIAL STOCKS LIFT WALL STREET AS FED MEETING LOOMS CLICK HERE
LEVERAGED ETF FLOWS SIGNAL TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN NASDAQ BULLS AND BEARS CLICK HERE
IRAN WAR A MANAGEABLE SHOCK, SAY SOCIETE GENERALE CLICK HERE
WAR DENTS INVESTOR SENTIMENT TOWARDS EUROPEAN STOCKS- BOFA SURVEY CLICK HERE
EUROPEAN STOCKS PRETTY CALM CLICK HERE
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: OIL UP, SHARES DOWN CLICK HERE
MORNING BID: CENTRAL BANKS GIRD FOR OIL SHOCKS AS RBA VOTES 5-4 TO HIKE CLICK HERE
