Business confidence in Hong Kong inched up to -4 in the third quarter of 2026, from -5 in the previous quarter. The proportion of respondents expecting better business conditions slipped to 10%, down from 11% in Q2 2026, while the share anticipating a deterioration eased slightly to 14%, from 16%.
Confidence strengthened in manufacturing (5 vs 0 in Q2). Sentiment also improved, though remained in negative territory, in accommodation and food services (-9 vs -35), construction (-6 vs -21), transportation, storage and courier services (-15 vs -24), information and communications (-7 vs -16), and retail (-2 vs -3). Confidence in import/export trade and wholesale was unchanged at -9.
By contrast, optimism moderated in financing and insurance (10 vs 12), while sentiment worsened sharply in real estate (-11 vs 9) and in professional and business services (-10 vs 2).
