Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Japan’s Tankan index of sentiment among large manufacturers fell to minus 4 in December, the Bank of Japan said in Tokyo today. The median estimate of 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for a reading of minus 2, compared with a reading of 2 in September. A negative number means pessimists outnumber optimists.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aki Ito in Tokyo at aito16@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Anstey at canstey@bloomberg.net