The quarterly bankers� confidence index reached a record high in the first quarter, according to the Central Bank. Optimism about the environment for lenders and implementation of government policies has boosted sentiment. The index rose to 82.4%, continuing an increasing trend since the second quarter of 2004, when it hit a low of 41%. The percentage quoted in the confidence index represents the proportion of respondents agreeing that China’s economic situation is normal. The Central Bank said another index, of attitudes towards monetary policy, also hit a fresh peak of 81% up from 77.4% in the previous quarter. The indexes are based on a survey of about 2,800 banking institutions.