JAPAN DATA: The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said
Japan’s industrial production is likely to fall 1.7% in the
October-December quarter from the previous three month, marking the
second straight quarterly drop, but marginally better than -1.8% in the
July-September quarter. METI’s survey of firms’ forecasts had earlier
showed that production will rebound by 1.4% m/m in November — revised
down from the 1.7% rise estimated in last month’s survey — and by
further 1.5% in December (first estimate).