S. Koreanonfidence hits near 6-year high for Q4

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean exporters' business confidence hit the highest level in almost six years for the fourth quarter as they expect the global economy to bottom out, a poll showed Monday.

The export business sentiment index for the October-December period stood at
131.5, compared with 108.5 in the third quarter, according to the survey
conducted by the Institute for International Trade, run by the Korea
International Trade Association, a trade lobby group.
The fourth-quarter index was the highest since the first quarter of 2004, when it
stood at 135.2, the institute said.
A reading above 100 means that most exporters surveyed expect exports to improve
from the previous quarter.
Despite the upbeat mood, exporters expressed concerns about a stronger Korean
currency against the U.S. dollar and rising prices of raw materials, the
institute said.
"While the survey result was seen as a green light for a recovery of exports, the
government needs to minimize fluctuations of foreign-exchange rates," said a
researcher at the institute.
By the end of August, South Korea's exports had fallen for ten straight months,
hit by the global economic crisis. That month, the nation's exports slipped 20.6
percent from a year ago to US$29.1, government data showed.
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