TOKYO, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- Business confidence among major Japanese manufacturers hit a four-year high in December, reflecting reduced uncertainty surrounding US tariff policy, the Bank of Japan survey showed Monday.
The central bank's quarterly survey showed the business sentiment among big makers, such as automakers and electronics makers, in the world's third-largest economy rose to plus 15 in December, compared with plus 14 in the previous September survey.
The reading was the highest since December 2021 and improved for the third quarter in a row.
The headline index represents the percentage of companies which are positive about their business minus the percentage of those who gave negative replies.
Thus, a positive number means optimists outnumber pessimists.
The central bank's "tankan," which means short-term economic outlook, is Japan's most closely watched index of business confidence.
Confidence among large retailers, banks, real estate companies and other non-manufacturers was at plus 34, flat from three months earlier, according to the central bank.
Looking ahead, large manufacturers expect their business sentiment index to be unchanged in the next March survey, while large non-manufacturers predict the reading slide six points to plus 28.
The latest survey was conducted between November 11 and December 12, covering 8,836 companies, of which 99.4 percent responded. (end) mk.gta