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Data from FMP. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
South KoreaSouth Korea Business Confidence fell to 81.0% in August 2026
FMPMonthlyReleased August 2026
South Korea Business Confidence fell to 81.0% in August 2026, down 1.0% from July's 82.0% reading. The reading matched the 83.0% consensus. The print is running well above the 12-month average of 72.33%. The reading is in the 93rd percentile of the trailing 24-month range.
Latest Release
81
Actual
83
Consensus
82
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±2.58 percentage points
across last 12 releases
Last Call
Aug 2026
Predicted: 83.5
Actual: 81
Error: +2.5
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Co-movement | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | ▼ Inverse | −0.54 | INDEX | Moves against | → View |
| XAU/USD | ▼ Inverse | −0.52 | COMMODITIES | Moves against | → View |
| BTC/USD | ▼ Inverse | −0.45 | CRYPTO | Moves against | → View |
| Hang Seng | ▼ Inverse | −0.40 | INDEX | Moves against | → View |
| KOSPI | ▼ Inverse | −0.31 | INDEX | Moves against | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Business Confidence (South Korea) was reported at 81% in August 2026. This missed the market consensus of 83% by 2%. The reading fell from the previous value of 82%. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through August 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 73.7%, ranging from 68% to 82% across 10 releases. This is classified as a medium-impact indicator released on a monthly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 81%, up from the prior three at 72%. Volatility over the past year (σ 4.96%) is higher than the prior year (σ 2.49%). In August readings over the past 3 years, Business Confidence has averaged 74%.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is negatively correlated with Nikkei 225 (Bearish Nikkei 225). A secondary relationship exists with XAU/USD, negatively correlated (Bearish XAU). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 2.58%.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for September 28, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include Consumer Confidence (Sep 22).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update August 2026.
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Business Confidence - KR
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About Business Confidence — South Korea
DEFINITION
Business Confidence is a financial indicator that measures the level of optimism or pessimism among business owners and managers about the current and future state of the economy. It is often used as a gauge of overall economic health and can impact investment decisions, hiring practices, and consumer spending. A high level of business confidence indicates a positive outlook and potential for growth, while a low level may signal caution and potential economic downturn. This indicator is closely monitored by economists, policymakers, and investors to assess the overall sentiment and potential direction of the business sector.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Sentiment surveys are forward-looking inputs that often lead hard data on output and hiring. Sharp swings can drive cross-asset repricing. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Aug 2026): actual 81 %, consensus 83 %. Prior reading (Jul 2026): 82 %. Before that (May 2026): 80 %.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bullish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with Nikkei 225 (Bearish Nikkei 225, r=-0.54) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.
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Economic Calendar - KR Events
| Monday, September 14, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:00 | KR | Import Prices YoY | 15.6 | 18.8 | 23 | 19.30 | Low |
| 21:00 | KR | Export Prices YoY | 42.4 | 48.9 | 52 | 47.20 | Low |