Asian firms' sentiment bounces from low but recession fears grow

People cross a street in the Central Business District (CBD) in Beijing, China

SINGAPORE: Confidence among companies in Asia lifted slightly in the September quarter from 10-year lows, but most firms do not plan on hiring or expect business to pick up as they see a risk of a global recession looming, a Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey found.

The Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asian Business Sentiment Index tracking firms' six-month outlook rose five points to 58 in the survey.