Ten major private-sector research institutes and banks project that Japan's economy will grow an inflation-adjusted 0.5-2.1 percent in fiscal 2000, through March 31, 2001.

Many of these institutes have recently issued slightly more optimistic forecasts compared with their stance late last year.

For the current fiscal year, through March 31, 2000, their predictions range between 0.2 percent and 0.6 percent growth. All but one -- Sanwa Bank-affiliated SRIC Corp. -- expect growth of less than the government-projected 0.6 percent.