Big Japanese manufacturers are gaining momentum

Joe Mann/AFP/Getty Images Confidence is rising among big manufacturers in Japan, the latest data shows. Japan's quarterly Tankan survey released by the Japanese central bank showed that business sentiment improved in the sector for the second straight quarter. The index rose from a reading of +11 to +12, which is the highest since December 2015 for the closely watched economic indicator. It was short of market expectations, however, for a rise to +14. The sentiment index arrives at a net figure ...