New Delhi Mar 18 (KNN) Thomson Reuters and INSEAD’s latest Asian Business Sentiment Survey showed Indian firms most positive and Chinese and Singaporeans the least.
 
Companies in India were the most upbeat for the fourth straight quarter, logging 97 on hopes that low inflation and aggressive interest rate cuts will boost the domestic economy.
 
High expectations for the government of pro-business Prime Minister Narendra Modi lifted the index, with 14 of 15 respondents reporting a positive outlook. However rising costs and global economic uncertainty were the top worries that were cited.
 
Optimism was tempered by firms in China, where the government expects economic growth to slow from 2014. Sentiment in the world's second-largest economy was marginally higher than the midway score of 50, the point at which sentiment is regarded as positive.

Singapore firms also registered the least positive outlook for the third consecutive quarter in anticipation of the first U.S. rate hike in almost a decade, which could happen as early as June.

With respect to the sectors property developers and drug manufacturers showed positive sentiments. (KNN/VV)