Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/03/25
By: Tasi Yi-chu and Frances Huang

Taipei, March 25 (CNA) The local manufacturing and service sectors showed an improvement in sentiment toward their business in February from a month earlier amid ample liquidity.

This came at a time when major central banks around the world have kept cutting interest rates, a survey released by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER, 台灣經濟研究院) showed Friday.

The more upbeat mood also reflected a rebound staged by international crude oil prices, which is expected to boost the pricing power of raw material suppliers and raise their sales overseas, the survey indicates.

The TIER’s manufacturing composite index for February rose 1.27 points from January to 92.26, while the service composite index also added 1.30 points from a month earlier to 86.07.     [FULL  STORY]