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Twitter usage has been growing quickly among small and medium-sized businesses, according to a report on small local firms.

More than half of female business professionals around the world – and a similar percentage of their male counterparts – report that they are dissatisfied with their jobs. At the same time, however, a significant number plan to stay with their companies and create new opportunities, according to new research from Accenture.

Fund managers are bullish about the prospects for public equities and emerging markets in 2011, but have bearish views of nominal government bonds according to a survey of investment managers conducted by global professional services company Towers Watson. The survey, which was conducted at the end of 2010, indicates that low central bank rates and mild inflation will continue to stimulate economic growth, helping to avoid a double dip recession and feed the global recovery. The investment managers highlight unemployment as a major challenge for some developed economies, but see it improving during the year.

Consumer preference for online banking has been increasing for years, while in-branch transactions have declined. According to a Novantas study, the percentage of consumers who transferred funds online nearly doubled from 34% in 2005 to 67% in 2010.

According to an international study conducted by Aviva in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific markets, 57 percent of Americans expect to work past their normal retirement date – the highest percentage among people in any of the 10 countries surveyed.

The National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK) continues to climb, up 0.8% to 74.7 on the 100-point index scale. With the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) stalling at 75.3, the gap between UK and US customer satisfaction is narrowing.

PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual video games, announced the results of a new survey which found large increases in overall usage and frequency of mobile game playing among U.S. and U.K. adults. The survey, conducted by Information Solutions Group, also found that among mobile phone gamers, the mobile phone is now the primary gaming device of choice, leapfrogging video game consoles and personal computers in less than two years. Further, "smartphone" owners (the fastest-growing mobile segment) are by far the most avid consumers of mobile phone games. These and other purchase and consumption trends identified in the survey suggest significant growth in the mobile games sector will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index ® (LEI) for Mexico remained unchanged and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index ® (CEI) increased 0.3 percent in December.

Merchandise trade growth quickened in the final quarter of 2010 in most major economies, with record trade figures in China. Total exports of G7 and BRICS countries grew by 8% in the fourth quarter compared to 1% in the previous quarter and total imports grew by 7% compared to 1% in the previous quarter.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Australia increased 0.7 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged in December.