SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sentiment for South Korean businesses over economic situations rebounded in October, driven by growing production in core industries and booming inbound tourism, central bank data showed Thursday.
The composite business sentiment index (CBSI) in all industries gained 5.1 points from a month earlier to 104.2 in October, turning around from a 0.5-point decline in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
It marked the highest in over four years since August 2022.
The CBSI among manufacturers advanced 6.1 points to 105.6, fueled by strong production and capital expenditure in primary industries, including semiconductors, automobiles and shipbuilding.
The index for non-manufacturers climbed 4.3 points to 103.2 due to semiconductor-related investments in factories and data centers, alongside soaring inbound tourism during the National Day holiday in China.
The results were based on a survey of 1,941 manufacturers and 1,509 non-manufacturers conducted between Oct. 14 and 21. A reading above the benchmark 100 indicates that optimists outnumbered pessimists.
The economic sentiment index, which reflects sentiment among both businesses and consumers, reached 100.8 in October, up 0.9 points from a month earlier. ■
