— Japan Apr Current Account Surplus Y333.8 Bln, -21.2% Y/Y
— Japan Apr Current Account MNI Fcast: Y464.1 Bln Surplus, +9.5%
TOKYO (MNI) – Japan posted a current account surplus for a third
straight month in April, buoyed by recovering exports and a continued
rise in the income surplus, data released by the Ministry of Finance
showed on Friday.
The current account surplus stood at Y333.8 billion in April, down
21.2% from a year earlier. It was lower than the median forecast in a
MNI survey for a surplus of Y464.1 billion, or a 9.5% rise.
Japan logged a record high current account deficit of Y437.3
billion in January amid slowing global demand, the high yen and slower
shipments to China during the Lunar New Year holidays.
The income surplus, the largest component of the current account,
rose 7.4% on the year to Y1.4 trillion in April, marking the 13th
straight y/y rise.
Exports increased 11.1% in April from a year earlier, marking a
second straight rise, following a 7.3% increase in the previous month.
Imports gained 11.2% in April for a 28th straight rise following a
11.9% rise in the previous month.
The services account — including transport, travel and financial
services — posted a deficit of Y498.6 billion in April, compared with a
shortfall of Y380.1 billion a year earlier.
The combined goods and services accounts were in deficit by Y962.5
billion in April, which was larger than a shortfall of Y792.1 billion a
year before.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** MNI Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5408-4835 **
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
