No Business Sector Expected to Improve Next Year

No business sector is expected to improve next year despite government promises of sunny uplands ahead.

According to a report issued by NICE Investors Service on Wednesday, the outlook for 40 business sectors it evaluated showed that none would see improved conditions next year.

Thirty-two will face unchanged conditions and eight -- the petrochemicals, retail, display panel, construction, cement, real estate trust service and leasing industries -- worse ones. Last year, the semiconductor and oil refining industries still had a rosy outlook for this year, but their hopes were crushed.

NICE also predicted that the credit ratings of many automotive parts, retail, display panel and life insurance companies will decline. The rest are expected to muddle along as before.

No business sector is forecast to see credit ratings improve.