JAPAN DATA: Combined investment in equipment by major firms in Japan is
expected to rise 7.3% on-year in the fiscal year 2011, showing the most
optimistic projection since +11.0% in fiscal 2007, data released by the
Development Bank of Japan show. In the same period last year, the DBJ
forecast the fiscal 2010 capital investment to show a 6.8% % y/y gain.
The bank also said the fiscal 2010 capital investment resulted in a 2.5%
y/y decline, posting falls for three years in a row but improving from
-16.7% for the fiscal 2009.