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Few U.S. companies plan to step up hiring in the next six months although they do expect the economy to be a bit stronger this year, according to a poll released on Monday.

The National Association for Business Economics’ industry survey found that two-thirds of respondents expected no change in employment at their companies over the first half of the year. That was the highest share in recent quarters.

Although the U.S. jobless rate fell to a near three-year low of 8.5 percent in December, fewer businesses said they would hire more workers, compared with the previous industry poll.

The survey, which was conducted between December 15 2011, and January 5 2012, found that 65 percent of respondents expect gross domestic product growth to exceed 2 percent between the fourth quarter of last year and the last quarter of 2012.

That was higher than the 1.6 percent growth rate economists polled by Reuters found.

About two-thirds of the companies surveyed said the European debt crisis would have little impact on their sales over the first half the year, while 27 percent of respondents said they expected to see a decline in sales of 10 percent or less.

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Manufacturing in India and China improved in December, a sign the world

Four Yemeni soldiers and two al-Qaida-linked militants were killed in clashes in the country’s south, military and medical officials said Sunday.

The fighting took place overnight outside the city of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province that Islamic militants seized earlier this year, a military official said. A medical official said six soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Al-Qaida-linked militants have overrun swaths of territory in Abyan, taking advantage of a security vacuum that has developed as a result of Yemen’s ongoing political unrest amid nine months of massive protests demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Fighting with the militants has continued as Yemen tries to emerge from its crisis. Saleh is due to step down by the end of the month in return for immunity from prosecution under a deal he signed last month. Under the U.S.- and Saudi-backed deal, a national unity government has already been formed, bringing in opposition parties.

Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has also formed a military committee joining both pro-regime forces and military units that defected to the opposition. On Saturday, the committee had succeeded in removing fighters, weapons and equipment of both sides from two main streets of the capital, Sanaa. But armed pockets of the rival forces could still be seen in side streets nearby.

The U.N. secretary-general’s envoy to Yemen, Jamal bin Omar, told reporters before he left Yemen Saturday that the military committee should end its work next Saturday in separating the rival sides, which at times engaged in heavy battles in the capital.

Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, the commander of the First Armored Division who defected and joined the protesters in March, expressed his backing for the military committee after meeting Sunday with ambassadors supervising enforcement of the deal.

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India’s inflation rate remained above 9 percent in November, leaving the central bank with little leeway to reverse interest rate hikes that have choked growth in Asia’s third-largest economy.

The plunging value of the rupee, which hit a fresh record low against the dollar Wednesday, is pushing up the cost of fuel and manufactured products even as big increases in food prices start to wane, government figures showed.

Although November’s 9.1 percent inflation rate was the lowest in a year, it remains far above government targets.

“The concern about inflation cannot be taken away from the monetary authority,” C. Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, told reporters.

The country’s economic problems have been exacerbated by a deadlocked Parliament and the weakness of the ruling Congress Party. Measures that could encourage investment and growth have been stalled by political bickering. Uncoordinated fiscal and monetary policy hasn’t helped either.

India’s economy grew 6.9 percent in the September quarter, the slowest in over two years and industrial output has contracted for the first time in over two years.

Many economists and business people say India needs to enact difficult but crucial reforms to kickstart the economy and reassure investors. Government officials, in contrast, have emphasized the global factors dragging on the investment cycle, and some seem to hope lower interest rates will offer a quick fix instead.

“There is a slowdown across the world,” said Ajay Shankar, secretary of the government’s National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council fast cash without a hassle. “The interest rate should come down. Then you get a better investment climate.”

Thirteen rate hikes since March 2010 haven’t tamed inflation, which has topped 9 percent in 20 of the last 22 months. The central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady this week.

D.K. Joshi, chief economist at research and ratings agency Crisil, said without the Reserve Bank of India’s aggressive rate hikes, inflation would have likely soared above 10 percent.

The central bank’s anti-inflation stance has been weakened by government spending in the run up to important state elections and fuel price hikes, which have been needed to keep the government’s ballooning fuel subsidy bill in check.

“The demand created through government expenditure has offset some of the moves of RBI, that’s having an impact,” Joshi said. “The fuel inflation has been kept suppressed. Now when you have a fiscal burden you have to pass that on to the consumer.”

The rupee has plunged over 20 percent since July and hit a fresh low of 53.76 on Wednesday. That’s bad news for a country that runs a current account deficit and imports about three quarters of its oil. Rising wages and raw material costs have also hit manufacturers.

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Jewelry seller Tiffany & Co. said Tuesday its fiscal third quarter profit rose 63 percent on strong sales globally, particularly in Asia.

The luxury retailer known for its iconic turquoise box is also raising its full-year forecast on the strong quarter.

Tiffany’s results show the luxury shopper is continuing to spend freely. That segment has rebounded more quickly from the recession than others. High-end jewelry sold better than other categories.

The New York company’s net income rose to $89.7 million or 70 cents per share in the three months ended Oct. 31. That compares with $55.1 million, or 43 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts expected earnings of 60 cents per share, according to FactSet.

Revenue rose 21 percent to $821.8 million. Analysts expected $801.8 million.

“Increased sales in all regions contributed to the continuation of strong worldwide sales growth in the third quarter,” said CEO Michael J. Kowalski.

In the Americas, sales grew 17 percent to $387.7 million. Revenue in stores open at least one year rose 16 percent.

The measure is considered a key gauge of a retailer’s financial health because it excludes stores that open or close during the year.

Tourists helped push the measure up 30 percent Tiffany’s the New York flagship store.

In Asia-Pacific, revenue rose 44 percent to $183.2 million, helped by strength in the greater China region.

Revenue rose 12 percent in Japan and 19 percent in Europe.

Tiffany now expects net income of $3.70 to $3.89 per share, for prior guidance of $3.65 to $3.75 per share. Analysts expect $3.72 per share.

Tiffany expects revenue to rise in the high-teens percentage for the year.

In the fourth quarter, the company expects net income of $1.48 to $1.58 per share. Analysts expect $1.63 per share.

Tiffany operates 243 stores globally..

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ConocoPhillips says its third-quarter profit fell about 14 percent due to unexpected production losses in China and Libya. Conoco has also been selling assets as it reshapes the company.

The Houston oil company on Wednesday reported earnings of $2.62 billion, or $1.91 per share, for the July-September quarter. That compares with $3.06 billion, or $2.05 per share, in the same part of 2010. Excluding special charges, Conoco reported adjusted earnings of $3.45 billion, or $2.52 per share.

Revenue increased 33 percent to $62.78 billion.

Analysts, who usually exclude special charges, expected earnings of $2.16 per share on revenue of $55 billion, according to FactSet.

Shares rose $1.59, about 2 percent, to $72.27 in premarket trading.

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Fiat and Chrysler are focusing on cash-generating businesses in the United States and Brazil to help weather growing uncertainty in the European auto market, CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday.

Fiat, which took over Chrysler nearly 2 1/2 years ago, saw its credit rating downgraded this week over financial risks in its alliance with the U.S. carmaker, which has been recovering from bankruptcy. Crucially, it is under severe pressure in its home market of Italy, where unions are resisting more flexible work conditions and demand is fading.

Adding to uncertainty, the Italian government appears unable to swiftly implement the austerity and growth measures aimed at preventing the country _ Fiat’s most important market _ from being swept into a spiraling debt market crisis.

“There is no doubt that a lot of elements are coming to play here, one of which may be an Italian factor. … I don’t know any more,” Marchionne said. “The stock market is up 4, 5 percent one day, then down 3. It is totally moving on rumors. There is no factual basis. I haven’t moved a forecast. I have moved nothing.”

Marchionne has maintained 2011 forecasts of euro58 billion ($79 billion) in revenues with euro2.1 billion ($2.9 billion) in trading profit for the combined automakers.

But he said there was little he can do to calm the markets.

“It is embedding a perception of risk which is totally outside of my control for me to try to cover it. We are almost helpless on this. There is nothing I can tell you, or tell the market, that will make this go away.”

The continuing economic uncertainty is hurting auto sales, particularly in Fiat’s main Italian market. Fiat registered a 7.8 percent drop in sales last month compared with a year earlier while its European market share shrank to 6.5 percent in September from 7.2 percent a year earlier.

“It impacts consumer attitudes, and that is probably the most negative thing about all of this. It really negatively impacts moods,” he said.

To maintain profitability, Marchionne said he is focusing on the cash-making parts of the business _ the U.S. and Brazilian markets _ while trying to build sales in the increasingly competitive European market, mainly outside of Italy where sales are at 30-year lows.

“They are still today the biggest profit contributors to Fiat. They need to be nurtured,” Marchionne said of the U.S. and Brazil business card. “That’s why I spend so much time there.”

Ironically, it is Fiat’s alliance with Chrysler that triggered downgrades by ratings agencies. Fitch was the last to weigh in on Tuesday, lowering the credit rating from to BB from BB+. It cited Fiat’s “intrinsic weakness,” its heavy reliance on the Italian and Brazilian markets, and exposure to increased financial risk due to the alliance with Chrysler.

Marchionne said Fiat is in a good cash position to continue with its investments in Italy and abroad for new production. Fiat expects to have euro18 billion in liquidity at the end of this year, according to its forecasts.

“We have enough liquidity now to deal with our requirements for quite a while,” Marchionne said.

But he criticized unions in Italy that continue to challenge the new contracts with more flexible work hours that Fiat has agreed at three plants. The FIOM metalworkers union has announced a one-day strike Friday at all Fiat plants.

“I think the strike, personally, is a very bad idea. It is not the manner in which one would encourage investment in this country,” Marchionne said, adding that he believes most Fiat workers support the new contracts, which have secured new investments at two plants near Fiat’s Turin headquarters and one near Naples.

Marchionne attended Wednesday the European launch of the Lancia Voyager minivan and Thema luxury sedan, both based on Chrysler models and concrete examples of the tighter integration of the two companies. In all of Europe except Britain, Chrysler models will carry the Lancia badge.

The Thema luxury sedan is Lancia’s re-entry into the premium market, after a two-year absence, at an affordable price of euro41,400. It is based on the Chrysler 300, but has been restyled and adapted for European markets with a soft leather interior, firmer suspension and redesigned front-end.

Lancia brand chief Saad Chehab said the car is the same size as the Audi A-8, but sells at a 15 percent discount over the smaller Audi A-6.

Both the Thema and Voyager will be manufactured in Canada, and aim at the higher end of Fiat’s market, with neither expected to achieve huge volumes. Chehab said they expect to sell 10,000 Themas and 11,000 Voyagers a year.

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Stocks wavered Tuesday as investors worried that Slovakia might block an expansion of Europe’s financial rescue program.

Sixteen countries that use the euro have approved a measure to strengthen a European rescue fund, but Slovakia hasn’t signed off on the plan yet. The measure would increase the size and powers of Europe’s financial rescue fund, allowing large amounts of money to be released quickly to banks and struggling governments before a full-blown crisis sets in. A vote is expected later in the day. If Slovakia blocks the measure, it could complicate efforts to address Europe’s debt jam.

The Dow Jones industrial average bounced between small gains and losses while other major indexes edged up.

The Dow fell 4 points, to 11,428, shortly before noon. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 1, or 0.1 percent, at 1,196. The Nasdaq rose 13, or 0.5 percent, to 2,579.

The weak trading comes a day after the Dow jumped 330 points, its largest increase since Aug. 11.

Investors worry that if Greece defaults on its debts, it would hurt banks in Europe and in the U.S. by causing the value of Greek government bonds they hold to plunge. With weaker balance sheets, those banks could become even more reluctant to lend to each other and to businesses and consumers. That could slow down an already weak global economy.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. fell 1.9 percent after the car-rental company said it was taking itself off the market after failing to get acceptable takeover proposals from Hertz or other companies.

Discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores Inc. rose 4.4 percent. Ares Management LLC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have offered to buy the company for $22 per share in cash, a 7 percent premium from Monday’s closing price.

Sprint Nextel Corp. fell 2.9 percent. The stock has plunged 26 percent since Friday, when Sprint said it wants to speed up plans to revamp its high-speed wireless network. Analysts say that will raise its expenses dramatically.

After the closing bell, aluminum maker Alcoa Inc. will become the first company in the Dow Jones industrial average to report third-quarter results. Analysts expect earnings from S&P 500 companies to rise about 12 percent from the same period last year, according to data provider FactSet. Revenue is expected to rise 11 percent.

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The Greek government conceded Monday it won’t meet its target of cutting the deficit to 6.5 percent of gross domestic product in 2012, as originally agreed with bailout creditors, but will cut it only to 6.8 percent.

According to figures in the draft budget submitted, Greece’s debt is projected to reach 172.7 percent of GDP in 2012, or euro371.9 billion.

Greece relies on regular payouts from a euro110 billion ($150 billion) bailout from other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund. Debt inspectors are in Athens reviewing reforms to see if Athens qualifies to receive the next euro8 billion installment of its bailout. Without it, Greece will run out of funds in mid-October.

On Sunday, Greece’s finance ministry said it won’t meet its deficit reduction target for this year. Its announcement prompted widespread selling in stock markets Monday.

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