[THE INVESTOR] Korean manufacturers’ business sentiment worsened for February, hit by sluggish sales of smartphones and cars amid rising oil prices, central bank data showed on Jan. 30.
The business survey index of manufacturers came to 77 for next month, down from 82 in January, according to the Bank of Korea.
A reading below 100 means the number of companies forecasting their businesses will deteriorate in the coming month was larger than the number expecting improvement.
An index measuring local firms’ sentiments toward exports came to 85 for next month, down from 89 for January.
A separate index for domestic sales stood at 73 for February, compared with 77 in January.
By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (
ssh@heraldcorp.com)