JAPAN DATA: Sentiment among small businesses improved for two
consecutive months, thanks to ongoing restoration of production capacity
and supply chains which were wrecked by the March 11 disaster, monthly
data released by Shoko Chukin Bank showed. The business sentiment index
for small firms stood at 43.1 in June, up 5.3 points m/m, after showing
37.8 in May, 36.1 in April and 49.5 in March. In particular, sentiment
of transportation vehicle, steel and chemical industries showed major
improvement. The bank surveyed 1,000 small businesses in the first 10
days of June.