Business confidence improves in UK oil & gas industry, but overall picture remains fragile

摘要

The Oil & Gas UK Index, published on 10 February 2010, shows that business confidence appears to be returning to the UK oil and gas industry. The overall industry index rose by 6 points to 56 in the final quarter of last year from 50 in the previous quarter, suggesting that the sector, hit by low oil and gas prices and the freeze on access to capital in the earlier part of 2009, is emerging from the recession with more optimism than at any other point in the past 12 months. The index provides the overall measure of industry confidence on a 100 point scale, with a higher rating (above 50) indicating a positive outlook and a lower rating (below 50) giving a more negative standpoint.