by winston » Thu Mar 24, 2016 6:40 am
It's not all bad
Most firms in the Asia-Pacific have an optimistic outlook over the next six months, a survey by Thomson Reuters/INSEAD showed.
The survey, conducted earlier this year, covered 97 of the biggest companies in the region.
Among respondents, household, food and beverage, health-care, retail and leisure and auto firms were the most bullish. Most reported improvements in asset quality, business activities and increased staff in the first quarter.
Firms in the construction and engineering, real estate, metals and chemicals, technology and telecom, energy and utilities sectors were among those with a neutral view.
Financial services firms, including banks and insurers, were pessimistic. Falling demand in China primarily clouds their outlook. But other respondents cited market volatility, changing regulations and prospects of higher interest rates for the gloomy outlook.
The survey also gave an outlook for different economies in the region. Firms in the Philippines were the most optimistic.
Sentiment in China, India, Japan, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore all improved. Firms in Australia and Indonesia were neutral, but their Malaysian and Taiwanese peers were relatively pessimistic.
The survey contradicted the gloomy forecasts of most stock analysts.
It is perhaps best not to focus on the bad news and not to ignore the good.
Source: Dr Check, The Standard
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"