To say that we've been through an eventful and challenging year is surely an understatement but I trust that despite all of these, you-my fellow BSPers-were able to easily bounce back, find the time to recharge, recover, and spend time with your loved ones during the holiday season. Over the past few months, the economy has also returned to some form of normalcy.
Under these circumstances, the ratio of firms' current profits to sales has been at a record high level, and the DIs for business conditions for all industries and enterprises in the December 2017 Tankan suggest that business conditions have improved for six consecutive quarters, being at a favorable level seen for the first time in 26 years, since 1991. Business fixed investment has continued on an increasing trend in a wide range of industries, with corporate profits and business sentiment improving (Chart 3).