KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Malaysian firms’ outlook has improved 6 per cent, the highest since 2014, according to researchers Grant Thornton.

In the firm’s latest International Business Report, it called the development a "major improvement” from the -36 per cent in business confidence the same firms reported a year ago.

"In the country, the signs of confidence can be seen as the survey revealed that 62 per cent business owners are expecting an increase in revenues up to 22 percentage point from the third-quarter (Q3) in 2017,” said Datuk NK Jasani, head of Grant Thornton in Malaysia.

"Also, 44 per cent of business owners are expecting an increase in exports for the year ahead which is up to 10pp from the same period, which is the highest in ASEAN.”

The quarterly business survey polled 2,500 businesses in 36 economies.

The firm said businesses are now considering expansions and making long-term plans in response to the improved confidence.