The Bank will continue to examine corporate financing as a whole including that of small firms, through various surveys such as the Tankan as well as interviews through the Bank's branch network. III. Conduct of monetary policy  I have explained the developments in the economies at home and abroad as well as the developments in prices.
As for the outlook, corporate profits are projected to follow a steady increasing trend, supported by the rise in demand at home and abroad on the back of the improvement in overseas economies and the effects of economic stimulus measures. Business fixed investment has been on a moderate increasing trend as corporate profits have improved.