Sentiment among major Japanese companies improved in August, with both the Reuters Tankan manufacturing and non-manufacturing indices registering gains, according to survey data published Wednesday.

The Reuters Tankan manufacturing index rose to +18 points from +13 points in July, owing to strong semiconductor demand.

The reading topped the Trading Economics forecast of a slight change to +14 points, and marked the 17th consecutive month that sentiment was positive among manufacturers in Japan.

Meanwhile, the non-manufacturers' sentiment index likewise climbed to +28 from +25 the previous month following improvements in wholesale trade, information services and other services.

The poll, carried out from July 29 to Aug. 6, obtained responses from 219 out of the 510 companies surveyed, Reuters said.