S. Korea`s manufacturing sentiment rises for Q3

SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturing sentiment rose considerably
for the third quarter of this year amid signs of improving economic conditions, a
government poll showed Tuesday.
The business survey index (BSI) for manufacturing companies rose to 108 for the
July-September period from 95 three months earlier, according to the survey by
the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.
The figure is the highest reached since the second quarter of 2008. A reading
above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists.
"The bulk of companies believe that there will improvements in such areas as
sales, domestic economy and exports," said Moon Sung-wook, a ministry official.
According to the findings, the BSI for overall sales and exports came to 108 and
103, respectively, with the index for ordinary profit and domestic shipments
reaching 99 and 106 each.
"With the exception of slight dips in exports and sales in electronics,
shipbuilding and nonferrous metal products, index numbers generally moved up,"
the official said.
The report said businesses did better than forecasted in the second quarter,
despite the global economic crisis. The actual sentiment index reached 101 for
the April-June period, compared to 65 in the previous quarter.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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