The Bank of Japan's "tankan" survey to be released this week will probably show that companies' reluctance to deploy record stockpiles of cash is diminishing as they become less pessimistic about the economic outlook.
The index of sentiment at large manufacturers will climb 11 points to minus 3 in June, according to the median forecast in a survey of 19 economists, the highest level since September 2008.
A negative number means pessimists outnumber optimists. Companies will project their first spending increase in three years, the survey of analysts showed.