JAPAN DATA: The national core consumer price index is seen falling
0.5% on year in December, matching the November drop and marking the
22nd straight year-on-year drop, according to the median forecast of
analysts surveyed by Market News International. The core CPI in central
Tokyo for January, which will be released together with December
nationwide CPI figures, is expected to show a 0.3% fall on year,
narrowing from -0.4% in November and posting the smallest drop since no
change seen in April 2009. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications will release the CPI data at 0830 JST today (2330 GMT
Thursday).