[Infostock Daily= Reporter LEE DONGHEE] According to a survey conducted by the Korea Economic Research Institute on the Business Survey Index (BSI) for 600 companies based on sales, the February forecast was 92.0. This is slightly improved compared to last month's forecast (90.3), but it is still far below the baseline 100.
By sector, domestic demand was 95.0, exports 97.1 and investment 95.7. However, the consecutive rise in the last two months seems to reflect the base effect from the economic deterioration last year and expectations for the recovery of the semiconductor industry.
In fact, the leading index cyclical fluctuations showing the economic situation in the future have been rising for three consecutive months since August last year, and expectations for economic improvement are expanding. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, one of the indicators of the semiconductor industry, has also been on the rise since August, and expectations for a recovery in semiconductor demand are also growing.
However, there is still uncertainty about the possibility of sluggish economy in developed countries such as the US, Europe, and Japan, and the remaining US-China trade conflict and the risk of low growth in China despite the signing of the first phase of the trade agreement.
"The expectation of the economic recovery has been reflected in the results of the survey, and the forecast has improved somewhat," said Chung Kwang-ho, director of the job strategy department at Han Kyung-yeon. "But internal and external uncertainties remain, so it is too early to optimistic about improving corporate earnings."
Reporter LEE DONGHEE nice1220@infostock.co.kr
