Corporate demand for funds from major banks hit a new high in the second quarter, according to a Bank of Japan survey released Wednesday.
The diffusion index for lending demand reported by 50 major financial institutions rose 4 points to 15 in the January poll, its highest since the central bank began the survey in April 2000. The index had set a record of 11 in the October survey.
The latest quarterly survey showed that the diffusion index for loan demand has reached high levels for companies of all sizes.
The diffusion index is calculated by subtracting the percentage of financial institutions that say loan demand was weaker from those saying it was stronger.