JAPAN DATA: Corporate sentiment improved for the fourth straight month
in August, monthly data released by Chamber of Commerce and Industry
show. The Local Business Outlook Index stood at -36.5 in August, up 3.5
points from -40.0 in July, and staying above the pre-quake level at
-40.1 seen in February. The index for manufacturers, which has close
correlation with the Bank of Japan’s quarterly tankan survey for
manufactures, stood at -28.1 in August, showing improvement for four
months in a row, improving from -32.9 in July. The chamber surveyed 2688
firms in a period between Aug. 18-24.