SECTOR by sector, the electronics industry is the most optimistic, whale the financial services industry is most cautious.

On the question of whether the company's revenue will increase, remain steady or decrease in the 12 months to come, 85 per cent of electronics firms predicted climbing turnover.

The same proportion of chief executives in the distribution and services sectors expects growth, with 71 per cent of manufacturers and 81 per cent of semi-state companies also envisaging an increase.

By contrast, just 63 per cent of managers in the financial sector predict increased revenues.

On employment, 77 per cent of company bosses in the electronics sector expect to hire more staff in the coming year. This compares to 60 per vent in the services industry and 44 per cent in the distribution sector.

Some 31 per cent of manufacturers and 20 per cent of semi-state chief executives expect to increase employee numbers.

Once again, the financial sector seems most cautious, with only 13 per cent of chief executives envisaging new jobs at their companies. Perhaps even more disturbing, a full 25 per cent of financial services companies predict having fewer staff one year from now.