ID :
98242
Tue, 01/05/2010 - 10:57
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/98242
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MALAYSIAN BUSINESSES MOST OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR, SAYS SURVEY
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Business owners in Malaysia are the most optimistic this year compared to the years before, according to Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) survey.
In a statement, SJ Grant Thornton said businesses in Malaysia and the
Asia-Pacific were positive that an upturn in the global economy has taken place
and expected more positive signs in the second half of 2010.
Its managing partner, N.K. Jasani, said in Malaysia, business owners were
positive on expecting increased revenue, followed by investment in plant and
machinery and profitability.
"This suggests that during the recession, businesses have become leaner and
more cost-effective. This may enable them to lower prices while still securing
increased revenues and crucially, profits.
"As the global economy emerges from recession, we are likely to see many
businesses reaping the rewards of recession induced efficiencies to lead the way
in the upturn," he said.
The IBR survey covers over 7,400 medium to large enterprises (MLEs) across
36 economies.
Now in its 18th year, it also highlights a group of ten economies where
businesses are more optimistic about the outlook for their economies than
International Monetary Fund forecasts might suggest.
The survey showed that optimism among MLEs around the world has bounced back
to give the Grant Thornton global optimism/pessimism index for 2010 an optimism
balance of +24 per cent compared to its lowest ever score of -16 per cent this
time last year.
Malaysia scored +49 per cent.
It said businesses in Chile, India, Australia, Vietnam and Brazil were the
most optimistic in the world, all scoring over +70 per cent.
"Close behind are South Africa, China, Singapore, Canada and Hong Kong at
+60 per cent or higher.
"At the other end of the scale, many euro zone countries were pessimistic
about the future," it said.
Italy, Denmark, Finland and France scored +nine per cent or lower with
Greece (-23 per cent) and Ireland (-42 per cent), it said.
"Spain (-56 per cent) and Japan (-72 per cent) kept their places as the most
pessimistic economies in the world, although even here the figures were slightly
up on last year," it said.
Jasani said the survey suggested that businesses in the giant emerging
markets of China, India and Brazil were confident they could help pull the rest
of the world back into growth and businesses in many other economies were
equally optimistic that they not only survived this recession but well-placed to
help drive the upturn.
"Strong stimulus measures implemented by our government have helped the
economy but consumer spending eased and investment and trade slumped.
"Activity is now picking up as exports in the country revive, underpinning
strengthening manufacturing. Growth prospects for 2010 look promising.
"MLEs contribute 81 per cent of global gross domestic product and the
global business community should be encouraged by the results of this survey,"
he said.
-- BERNAMA
In a statement, SJ Grant Thornton said businesses in Malaysia and the
Asia-Pacific were positive that an upturn in the global economy has taken place
and expected more positive signs in the second half of 2010.
Its managing partner, N.K. Jasani, said in Malaysia, business owners were
positive on expecting increased revenue, followed by investment in plant and
machinery and profitability.
"This suggests that during the recession, businesses have become leaner and
more cost-effective. This may enable them to lower prices while still securing
increased revenues and crucially, profits.
"As the global economy emerges from recession, we are likely to see many
businesses reaping the rewards of recession induced efficiencies to lead the way
in the upturn," he said.
The IBR survey covers over 7,400 medium to large enterprises (MLEs) across
36 economies.
Now in its 18th year, it also highlights a group of ten economies where
businesses are more optimistic about the outlook for their economies than
International Monetary Fund forecasts might suggest.
The survey showed that optimism among MLEs around the world has bounced back
to give the Grant Thornton global optimism/pessimism index for 2010 an optimism
balance of +24 per cent compared to its lowest ever score of -16 per cent this
time last year.
Malaysia scored +49 per cent.
It said businesses in Chile, India, Australia, Vietnam and Brazil were the
most optimistic in the world, all scoring over +70 per cent.
"Close behind are South Africa, China, Singapore, Canada and Hong Kong at
+60 per cent or higher.
"At the other end of the scale, many euro zone countries were pessimistic
about the future," it said.
Italy, Denmark, Finland and France scored +nine per cent or lower with
Greece (-23 per cent) and Ireland (-42 per cent), it said.
"Spain (-56 per cent) and Japan (-72 per cent) kept their places as the most
pessimistic economies in the world, although even here the figures were slightly
up on last year," it said.
Jasani said the survey suggested that businesses in the giant emerging
markets of China, India and Brazil were confident they could help pull the rest
of the world back into growth and businesses in many other economies were
equally optimistic that they not only survived this recession but well-placed to
help drive the upturn.
"Strong stimulus measures implemented by our government have helped the
economy but consumer spending eased and investment and trade slumped.
"Activity is now picking up as exports in the country revive, underpinning
strengthening manufacturing. Growth prospects for 2010 look promising.
"MLEs contribute 81 per cent of global gross domestic product and the
global business community should be encouraged by the results of this survey,"
he said.
-- BERNAMA
