South Korean companies continue to remain pessimistic about their business conditions in January as they predict unfavorable conditions at home and abroad, a poll showed Sunday.

According to the survey by the Federation of Korean Industries of the country’s top 600 companies by sales, the business survey index for next month stood at 90.3, the lowest since February.

A BSI reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists.

“Such a pessimistic outlook is apparently due to a prolonged downturn in the local economy amid a slowdown of China’s economy,” the FKI said in a press release.

The BSI for domestic sales and exports stood at 92.8 and 91.4, respectively, with the reading for profitability also falling far short of the benchmark 100 at 91.6.

Cash liquidity and employment numbers stood at 95.4 and 98.7, respectively.

The actual BSI for this month stood at 95.4, falling short of the benchmark 100 for the fourth straight month.

Business conditions for the country’s small and medium enterprises may be worse. (Yonhap)