JAPAN DATA: The value of construction orders received by the 50
largest contractors in Japan rose 9.3% in August from a year earlier to
Y758,50 billion, the fifth straight year-on-year gain, the Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said. The August reading
followed gains of 5.7% in July, 6.0% in June, 25.5% in May and 31.4% in
April.