The ongoing war may continue to affect consumer and business sentiment in the Asia-Pacific region due to higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions, despite CFOs remaining cautiously optimistic about business prospects.
South Korea's Composite Business Sentiment Index (CBSI) rose to 98.9 in May, a 3.5-year high, driven by robust semiconductor exports, with manufacturers' sentiment surpassing 100 for the first time since August 2022.
German business sentiment has plummeted to a new low, with 26% of companies rating the economic situation as bad, according to a DIHK survey. The ongoing Iran conflict casts a shadow, dampening hopes for recovery and leading to a downgraded growth forecast of 0.3% for the year.
A survey of 216 German companies in China reveals a significant rise in economic optimism, with 37 per cent expecting improvement. Despite geopolitical headwinds like the Iran war and US-China trade tensions, investment plans and profit forecasts have strengthened.
South Korea's Composite Business Sentiment Index rose to 94.9 in April, the highest since July 2024, driven by declining inventories and solid export growth despite Middle East crisis disruptions. The manufacturing sector index climbed to 99.1, while non-manufacturers remained at 92.1. The BOK noted that excluding inventory effects, the index actually fell 0.1 points, highlighting the temporary nature of the improvement.
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's business sentiment remains pessimistic...
