Business Confidence stories
Many smaller firms may delay hiring and investment unless the budget measures ease costs and restore confidence, MYOB says.
Business groups welcomed the Budget's productivity push, but warned small firms and agencies still lack the skills to deliver it.
Australian small firms are reporting higher revenue and hiring from AI, with regular use almost doubling in 18 months to 69%.
Rising fuel and energy bills are squeezing margins and leaving Australian firms facing weaker trading conditions ahead.
Many small businesses may delay investment and hiring unless the Federal Budget delivers tax relief and help with rising costs.
Momentum stayed firm for Australian small businesses in the March quarter, as sales, jobs and wages all rose despite higher fuel costs.
Fuel costs have pushed headline prices higher again, leaving the Reserve Bank of Australia under pressure to raise interest rates despite softer underlying inflation.
Overseas buyers now account for 44% of online sales for surveyed Irish SMEs, as social commerce and AI reshape growth plans.
Supplier-linked attacks and AI-related incidents are testing cyber defences in Hong Kong and Singapore, despite strong confidence in the technology.
The integration aims to help SMEs spot credit issues earlier, as approval rates fall and a GBP £22 billion funding gap persists.
EY-Parthenon says dealmaking is shifting towards AI and technology as 87% of UK chief executives expect their M&A appetite to rise.
Privacy worries and mistrust are slowing AI uptake among Kiwi small firms, despite 61% already using the technology, Xero says.
Freight and energy costs are feeding May price rises, with over 40% of retailers and transport firms planning increases, ONS data show.
UK business leaders say tangled tech is raising costs and slowing growth, as O2 Business launches with a simpler offer for customers.
Customer-facing firms were hit hardest as weak demand and higher costs left UK small businesses with their slowest sales growth in two years.
Improving demand and higher interest-rate relief helped New Zealand small businesses post 3.9% sales growth in the March quarter.
Cash flow is tightening for Canadian small businesses as March sales improved only slightly, while payment times lengthened and late bills rose.
AI users are already outperforming peers, with New Zealand SMEs earning about NZD $400,000 more and large firms NZD $59.1 million more in FY25.
Poor digital confidence is leaving 42% of Kiwi small businesses dreading tax time, as mixed systems and security gaps expose errors.
Nearly all Scottish tech firms now use AI, with full adoption doubling to 18% as sales and cashflow improve despite softer confidence.