TOKYO - Japanese big manufacturers' sentiment improved slightly in the three months to December, a quarterly survey showed on Friday, boding well for the central bank's plans to gradually raise interest rates from near-zero levels.
An index gauging big manufacturers' sentiment declined slightly to +33 from +34 in September, compared with a median market forecast for a reading of +32. The BOJ ended negative interest rates in March and raised its short-term policy rate to 0.25% in July on the view Japan was making steady progress towards sustainably achieving its 2% inflation target.