South Korea's business sentiment index for December has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years.<br />Data released by the Bank of Korea on Friday shows the index dropped two points from the previous month to 72.<br />A reading below 100 means there are more pessimists than optimists on the local economy.<br />An official cited a sharp drop in sentiment among businesses in the chemical sector.<br />They said demand for their goods had slowed amid the U.S.-China trade war. <br />The prolonged slump in the construction and auto sectors also drove down sentiment in the metal industries. <br />
