Japanese traders' sentiment less negative.

(From BusinessWorld (Philippines))

Byline: Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo

The monthly survey of the the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) for August showed Japanese firms were a lot less pessimistic about prospects this month, against previous months, while more businessmen expressed optimism that current business conditions will improve.

"On the back of expanding global demand for semiconductors, strong business confidence among Japanese electric/electronics manufacturers in Malaysia and the Philippines helped push indices higher in these countries," JETRO said in a statement.

The National Statistics Office had said exports last June …