Japanese manufacturers' business confidence improved for the first time since August while service-sector mood rose for a second month, according to the Reuters Tankan poll, which also highlighted a challenging outlook amid a patchy economic recovery. The monthly poll mirrored a similar improvement seen in the third quarter in the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) closely-watched quarterly tankan survey. The latest Reuters Tankan, however, pointed to a tough quarter ahead even as confidence perked up in November with manufacturers' mood expected to hold steady over the coming three months while service-sector morale was seen ... (full story)