Business confidence in Malaysia is expected to remain moderately upbeat in the first quarter of 2017 despite signs of a downward moderation. 
The Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Malaysia's Business Optimism Index (BOI), overall, remained in the expansionary region, but slipping for the third consecutive quarter from 3.83 % points in fourth quarter 2016 to 1.65 % points in first quarter 2017, Malaysian New Agency (Bernama) reported. 
The six business indicators in the quarterly BOI included volume of sales, net profits, selling price, inventory level, employees and new orders. 
Four of the six moderated downwards, while two improved in the first quarter 2017 on a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis. 
"Both net profits and employment levels fell into negative territory q-o-q. Net profits fell from 7.0 % points in fourth quarter 2016 to minus 5.94 % points in first quarter 2017, while employment slipped from 2.50 % points to minus 0.99 % points," D&B said in a statement on Monday. 
It said the volume of sales moderated downwards visibly from 7.0 % points to 0.99 % points, and new orders similarly declined from 5.50 % points to 1.98 % points. 
Meanwhile, both selling price and inventory levels improved q-o-q. 
Selling price rose from 0.50 % points to 9.41 % points and inventory levels jumped from 0.50 % points to 3.47 % points. 
D&B added that on a year-on-year basis, BOI fell moderately from 4.75 % points in the first quarter 2016 to 1.65 % points in first quarter 2017