The Quarterly Business Tendency Survey has found 17% of the senior management of 560 prominent companies expect their business situation to improve this quarter over the second quarter.
Releasing the survey results today, the Census & Statistics Department said 11% of respondents expect the business situation to worsen.
The proportion of respondents expecting their business situation to remain unchanged increased from 69% to 72%.
Analysed by sector, significantly more respondents in the financing and insurance, and information and communications sectors had a favourable Q3 business outlook.
The survey found the accommodation and food services, information and communications, construction, and real estate sectors are optimistic, having slightly more respondents expecting employment to increase.
The survey also revealed significantly more respondents in the construction sector are expecting their tender prices to go up.