By Leika Kihara and Tetsushi Kajimoto
TOKYO (Reuters) – Business confidence at big Japanese manufacturers improved in the three months to December for a third quarter in a row, a closely watched central bank survey showed on Wednesday, underscoring the strength of the country’s economic recovery.
The headline index for big manufacturers’ sentiment improved to +12 in the December quarter from +9, the Bank of Japan’s quarterly tankan survey showed.
Big non-manufacturers’ sentiment index rose to +30 from +27, improving for the seventh straight quarter, the survey showed.
The tankan is among key economic indicators the central bank scrutinises to see whether the virtuous cycle of private sector-led growth takes hold. Its next policy review is Dec. 18-19 in which it will issue fresh growth and inflation projections.
(Reporting by Leika Kihara and Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
