South Korean manufacturers' business outlook for this year remained negative.
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​According to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade's survey of the country's 600 manufacturers, the Business Survey Index (BSI) for the January-March period marked 92. The BSI for their sales outlook came to 95.
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​The comparable figures for the previous quarter marked 92 and 94, respectively.
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​The index figures for all industrial sectors were below the benchmark 100, except the semiconductor industry, which came to 102.
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​A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumbers optimists in terms of business outlook.