By Maria Martinez
Business sentiment in Belgium picked up in November, data from the National Bank of Belgium showed Thursday.
Business confidence rose to 4.2 in November from 4.0 in October.
The building industry is the only sector where business confidence has improved in November, rising to 2.3 from 1.1 in October. All components making up the indicator have contributed to the rise, with the exception of the one concerning trends in equipment used.
Conversely, confidence has dipped in the services sector, falling to 15.3 from 16.4 the previous month. Company bosses are taking a more negative view of their current level of business activity. On the other hand, they appear more optimistic about future prospects for their own activity, the report said.
In the manufacturing industry, all the indicator's components have remained stable. The indicator rose slightly to 2.5 in November from 2.3 the previous month.
In the trade sector, the indicator fell to minus 2.4 in November from minus 2.0 in October. Demand forecasts have contracted sharply, while those for orders placed with suppliers have improved, the bank said.
Write to Maria Martinez at maria.martinez@wsj.com
Corrections & Amplifications
This was corrected at 9:24 a.m. ET because the original version incorrectly said in the trade sector, the indicator rose to minus 2.4 in November from minus 2.0 in October. The indicator fell to minus 2.4 in November from minus 2.0 in October.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
11-25-21 0914ET
