Business confidence among Japanese manufacturers has soured to hit the weakest l...
TOKYO - Business confidence among Japanese manufacturers has soured to hit the weakest level in 6-1/2 years, the Reuters Tankan poll for September showed, underscoring fears that the U.S.-China trade war is undermining Japan’s export-led economy.
The Reuters Tankan sentiment index for manufacturers fell for a fourth straight month, reaching minus 7, the lowest point since March 2013. Sliding business confidence among manufacturers could dampen capital expenditure - a rare bright spot in the world’s third-largest economy - while the bleak outlook at non-manufacturers indicated worries about a hit from a sales tax hike to 10% from 8% scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.Government data out this week showed Japan’s economy grew at a slower-than-estimated 1.3% annualized in the April-June quarter as the trade war prompted a downward revision of business spending.
“The sales tax hike, anxiety about the future, and slowdown in private consumption” are weighing on our business confidence, said a food processing company manager. The service-sector index improved to 19 from 13 in August, led by wholesalers/retailers and transportation/utility firms.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Japan may have to dump radioactive Fukushima water into the PacificEight years after Japan's worst nuclear disaster, the government is not sure what to do with the contaminated water that remains -- but its environment minister says dumping it into the ocean might be the only choice.
Read more »
Japan will have to dump radioactive Fukushima water into Pacific, minister saysTokyo Electric Power will have to dump radioactive water from its destroyed Fuku...
Read more »
Japan may have to dump radioactive water into the sea, minister saysJapan's Tokyo Electric Power will have to dump radioactive water f...
Read more »
Japan regulator to launch new investigation into Fukushima nuclear disasterJapan's nuclear regulator said in Wednesday it would launch a new investiga...
Read more »
Japan new trade chief rejects Seoul's claim to WTO over export curbsJapan's new trade minister, Isshu Sugawara, dismissed on Wednesday South Ko...
Read more »
'Protecting rapists': Protesters accuse Japan of failing to protect womenMany activists say Japan's criminal code is outdated, underscoring gender inequality in the country, despite relatively high rates of female education and workplace participation.
Read more »