Japanese business sentiment improved in the three months to December, a closely watched central bank survey showed on Monday, a sign the economy was gradually emerging from the initial hit of the coronavirus pandemic. The headline index for big manufacturers’ sentiment improved to minus 10 in December from minus 27 in September, the Bank of Japan’s “tankan” survey showed. It compared with a median market forecast of a minus 15 reading. Survey results on the BOJ"s website: here (Reporting by Leika Kihara and Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chris Gallagher)