TOKYO: Sentiment among big Japanese manufacturers slipped in most recent quarter, the central bank said on Thursday, underlining the shaky footing for growth in the world’s third largest economy.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ)’s ‘tankan’ survey, released on Thursday, fell three points to 12 in September. The tankan measures corporate sentiment by subtracting the number of firms saying business conditions are negative from those responding they are positive.

Junichi Makino, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities, said other indicators were, however, positive.