Business sentiment at large firms re-entered optimistic territory in the July-September quarter, climbing to its most highest since 2007 amid strong signs of recovery in manufacturing, a government survey said Thursday.
The index of business conditions at companies capitalized at ¥1 billion or more came to plus 0.3, compared with minus 22.4 in the April-June quarter, according to the Cabinet Office and Finance Ministry survey conducted Aug. 25 on 11,543 companies.
It is the first time the industrywide index has been in positive territory in seven quarters, and the second-highest margin of rise since the survey adopted its current format in April-June 2004.