JAPAN DATA: Japanese housing starts are expected to have fallen
3.5% in January, a fifth straight y/y drop after -7.3% in December, due
mainly to shortages of construction workers and building materials
caused by the reconstruction of the earthquake-hit northeastern region,
according to the median forecast of analysts surveyed by MNI. The
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will release the
data at 1400 JST (0500 GMT) on Wednesday, Feb. 29.