Big Japanese manufacturers are the most pessimistic in almost three years after a diplomatic dispute with China and Europe’s austerity measures dragged exports to a fifth monthly decline in October. The quarterly Tankan index for large manufacturers fell to minus 12 in December from minus 3 in September, the Bank of Japan (8301) said in Tokyo today, a fifth straight negative reading and the lowest since March 2010. The median estimate of 25 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for minus 10. A negative figure means pessimists outnumber optimists. The slide in sentiment gives the central bank an extra reason to ... (full story)