FX.co ★ South Korea Business Sentiment Deteriorates in March

South Korea’s Business Survey Index (BSI) for the manufacturing sector was 71 in March, down slightly from 72 in February, indicating a modest decline in business sentiment. Within manufacturing, production rose to 88 from 85, new orders increased to 84 from 81, inventories edged up to 101 from 100, and the financial situation index eased to 79 from 80. In contrast, the broader Economic Sentiment Index (ESI)—which combines the BSI with the Consumer Survey Index—fell to 94.0 in March, a decrease of 4.8 points from February, signaling weaker overall confidence in the economy.