Business expectations still positive for H1, but lower than in previous survey

Singapore

MORE companies expect business conditions for the next six months to improve, with the services sector edging out manufacturing slightly in terms of optimism levels.

But sentiment for both sectors has dipped since the previous quarter, as businesses are wary about whether the economic upswing would last.

These findings, released on Wednesday, were from two separate surveys on firms' business expectations for January to June. The polls were done between December 2017 and last month.

The Economic Development Board shared its findings on the manufacturing sector, while the Department of Statistics reported on services.

Economists that The Business Times spoke to were slightly taken aback by the outcome of the surveys. While the dip in manufacturing sentiment was expected, given that semiconductor demand was pred…