The country's business players are looking to the future with

The country's business players are looking to the future with increased optimism as business sentiments have improved thanks to the restoration of security and order, a consultancy firm said.

Danareksa Research Institute, citing its February-March survey, said the business sentiment index rose 1.1 percent to 110.2 in the survey period, while the expectation index climbed to 120.2 from 119.0.

The present situation index (PSI) rose from 99.1 to 100.1 to mark a shift into positive territory, it said.

Optimism has now sprung among the country's business players after their sentiments dived following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the floods that severely hit Jakarta and other parts of the country, as well as the high inflation in the first two months of the year, it said.

Sentiment on current performance -- sales, profits, production, liquidity and capital spending -- was all sanguine, as the rebound of sales turnover, both in sales volume and prices, reinvigorated investor sentiment.