The index found that Hungary's top 100 companies believed the Hungarian macroeconomic environment is largely stable, thus second-half results showed re-emerging optimism. However, only 29% of large companies believed the operating environment will improve in the next 12 months, while 42% saw no change on the horizon and 29% were pessimistic.
In spite of the gloomier picture of the operating environment, 42% of the top 100 companies believe that their own business will improve in the next six months. A total of 58% of companies said they plan to expand production in the near future, up from 44% in the previous month.
The upward correction seen in the top-100 indicator was also detectable in the outlook among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); the November index was up around eight points on the month to 47.9%. The number of SMEs that were optimistic about the operating environment and their own business prospect also grew.
The proportion of SMEs expecting increased production in the next 12 months was up slightly to 24%, however, willingness of SMEs to invest continued to fall, amounting to 40% in November. Only one-third of all small businesses plan to expand the range of activities, due to sluggish growth in household consumption and an incalculable microeconomic environment.
