Japanese business sentiment in Asia up

Japanese business sentiment in Asia up

Business sentiment indicators for Japanese firms operating in
Asia were positive in August, the government-backed Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO) said on Thursday.

Responses from Japanese firms operating in South China, East
China, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia in August were relatively
high at 33.0, 30.9, 29.0, 23.8 and 21.0, respectively.

The index results for all other regions - North China, Hong
Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines - were also positive at
15.8, 11.9, 11.5, and 7.7, respectively.

The index for Indonesia turned to positive 5.8 in August. Last
month, the index for Japanese firms operating in Indonesia was
negative 6.5.

The monthly survey measures year-on-year changes in the
outlook of Japanese firms for the current month and the next two
to three.

Industries that have improved significantly since July were
Malaysia's transportation machinery at 63.6 from 30.8, and
Indonesia's electric and electronic machinery at 42.1 from last
month's 11.8, JETRO said.

JETRO asks firms to compare earning prospects, supply and
demand, inventory, sales prices and accounts receivable with the
same period the year previous.

Replies are limited to better, the same, or worse than a year
earlier. The index totals the difference between positive and
negative responses. -- dpa