More services sector firms upbeat about business environment in H2

More companies in the services sector expect a better business environment in the second half of 2017 than in the first half of the year, figures released by the Department of Statistics Singapore on Monday showed.

A net weighted balance of 5 per cent of firms in the services sector anticipate more favourable business conditions for the period of July to December 2017, versus January to June 2017. This is a turnaround from a net weighted balance of -1 per cent in the previous quarter's survey and -6 per cent for the same period a year ago.

A weighted 19 per cent of firms are optimistic about the business conditions for H2 while a weighted 14 per cent foresee slower business. A majority of them - a weighted 67 per cent - expect business activity level to remain the same.