A: Hey there! Did you catch the latest news?
B: No, what's up?

A: Well, guess what? The Tankan survey for major Japanese manufacturers has shown a tiny improvement for the second quarter in a row!
B: Wow, really? That's great to hear! So, how optimistic are they feeling about business conditions now?

A: They're feeling slightly more optimistic actually. The sentiment index is at plus 14, which is one point higher than before.
B: That's a positive sign, right? It means more companies are hopeful compared to those who aren't.

A: Exactly! And get this - out of the 16 sectors they monitored, nine of them improved! The automotive industry had a two-point improvement, mainly because uncertainty over US tariffs seems to have eased after Japan and the US issued a joint statement.
B: I see. That's good to hear about the auto industry. And how about non-manufacturers?

A: Non-manufacturers are maintaining their level of optimism, hovering around the highest it's been in 34 years.
B: Incredible! Looking ahead, what do they expect for the next three months?

A: Confidence at large manufacturers is forecast to dip a little, going down to plus 12. Non-manufacturers, on the other hand, are predicted to have a six-point decline, dropping to 28.
B: Well, it's not all bad news, right? Let me guess - they polled around 9,000 companies from late August through the end of September for this survey?

A: You got it! They did indeed. That's all for now. Wanna grab a bite later to celebrate this good news?
B: Absolutely! Let's do it!