IBO indices finish August on strong footing.(stock indices)(Illustration) From: Instrument Business Outlook | Date: August 31, 2003 | COPYRIGHT 2003 Strategic Directions International Inc. (SDI). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The month of August proved to be beneficial for all four IBO indices, as well as all three major US stock indices. Near the end of the month, the Commerce Department gave a revised GDP growth rate of 3.1% for the second quarter of 2003, compared to the 2.4% estimate made one month ago. This is a major indication that, assisted by increased defense spending, business investments and overall consumer spending, the economy may finally be coming out of a two-year recession. Companies a...