BloombergJapan’s large manufacturers were losing optimism for the first time in more than six years as the government mulled measures to prop up the economy, according to a survey released by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) ahead of its meeting next week. Sentiment among Japan’s biggest product makers slid to 0 from 5, according to the bank’s quarterly tankan survey released yesterday. Confidence has now weakened for four consecutive quarters, with the drop to zero indicating there are now as many pessimists as optimists. Sentiment at large companies outside the factory sector held up better than expected and capital spending plans edged up from the previous quarter. Still, resilience in the service sector suggests the damage from the global slowdown is still largely contained to Japan’s manufacturers.

Source: Taipei Times December 13, 2019 15:56 UTC