Japan firms fail to shake off tax-hike gloom

TOKYO: Big Japanese manufacturers were slightly more optimistic in the third quarter but service sector sentiment worsened, a central bank survey showed, adding to signs that a solid economic pickup will remain elusive.

As the weak yen lifted exporters' mood, big companies raised capital expenditure plans and saw job markets tightening the most since 2008, the Bank of Japan's "tankan" survey showed.