Japanese small business confidence weakened in February, survey results from Shoko Chukin Bank showed Tuesday.
The headline business confidence index fell to 45.3 from 45.7 points in the prior month. A reading below 50 indicates that pessimists outnumber optimists.
Confidence among manufacturers rose to 44.7 from 44.2 in January. Meanwhile, non-manufacturers' sentiment declined by 1.2 points to 45.7.
The business confidence index is forecast to rise to 47.6 in March. The reading for manufacturers is seen at 47 and that for non-manufacturers at 48.1.
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