TOKYO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Business sentiment at Japan's large manufacturers improved in December for the first time in six quarters, as the yen's weakness and global economic uptick helped buoy confidence, the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) Tankan survey showed on Wednesday.
The headline index measuring confidence among big manufacturers like the nation's blue chip electronics and automakers rose from plus 6 in the previous survey three months ago to plus 10, slightly below median market forecasts for a read of of 11.
The BOJ's survey also showed that large companies spanning all industries plan to raise business investment by 5.5 percent for the year ending in March, lower than median market estimates for a 6.1 percent increase and following a 6.3 percent increase in the previous survey.
The outlook among the manufacturers rose from plus 6 to 8, the BOJ said, still lower than average forecasts for a reading of plus 9.
Sentiment among large non-manufacturers, the central bank's survey showed, was unchanged at plus 18 and came in slightly lower than market estimates for a reading of plus 19.
