Japan's small business confidence rose in September to its highest level in three years, boosted by accelerating growth in the world's second-biggest economy, industry figures released in Tokyo showed.
Shoko Chukin Bank's index of small business confidence rose to 49.4 points this month from 46.0 in August, according to a monthly survey of 800 companies by the state-run lender. The small business confidence index has been below 50 points, which means pessimists outnumber optimists, since March 1996. This month's reading was the highest since September 2000 when the index was at 49.8.
Sentiment among small manufacturers rose to 50.4 points from 46.0 last month. Confidence among retailers, construction companies and other non-manufacturers rose to 48.6 from 46.0 a month earlier.
Small business confidence is forecast to fall to 49.3 in October, the report said.
