KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian businesses expect more favorable performance in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter, as the confidence indicator edging up marginally to 7.1 percent from 6 percent, official statistics showed on Thursday.

Malaysian Statistics Department said in a statement that the confidence indicator for the services sector increases for a second consecutive quarter, recording a growth of 18.8 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with 16.5 percent growth in the preceding quarter.

Confidence indicator for the wholesale and retail trade sector also climbed in a relatively strong manner in the fourth quarter to 13.2 percent, from 3.6 percent.

In contrast, confidence indicator for construction sector slipped further to a negative growth of 21.5 percent for the fourth quarter, compared to a negative growth of 7.7 percent in the third quarter.