| Updated:
Capital’s firms more optimistic
■ Business confidence in London has risen to its highest level since the recession, according to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) latest quarterly economic survey. Almost half of firms expect their prospects to improve over the next 12 months, pushing the index up to a net 23 per cent, a 43 per cent rise on the previous quarter. The study also showed steady employment, as 71 per cent of firms kept headcounts unchanged in the last quarter, while investment intentions reached their highest level since 2009.