Japan's GDP grows 3.5% annualized

Japan's economy grew 1.0% during the January-March quarter, or 4.1% on an annualized basis with the results beating expectations for a 3.5% annualized gain.

Japan's jobless rate rises to 4.5% in October

Japan's unemployment rate rose more than expected in October, although the month's drop in household spending was less than economists had forecast. The October jobless rate hit 4.5% for the month.

Japan’s October CPI signals deflation

Japan’s core consumer-price index fell in October, signaling the return of deflation after four months of price gains, and raising fresh doubts about the Bank of Japan’s claim of a trend change in the price environment. Core CPI fell 0.1% in October.

Much of the core CPI decline is related to an increase in cigarette taxes and insurance premiums that were unveiled in the same month a year earlier.Gas and electricity charges were higher from a year earlier, reflecting higher prices for liquid natural gas as conventional power stations were throttled up to compensate as nuclear power stations throttled back.

Japan stocks fall sharply

Japanese stocks opened to sharp losses Monday as exporters and banks fell, tracking a poor U.S. jobs report and a Wall Street sell-off. The Nikkei Stock Average lost 1.3% to 8,833.24 in the early going, while the Topix fell 1.1% to 761.08. Concerns about the U.S. economy and a persistantly strong yen weighed on exporters.

Japan to downgrade quarterly growth data: Barclays

Japan's economy likely shrank 2.5% in April to June from the prior quarter, exceeding the preliminary reading of a 1.3% contraction, revised figures due to be released next week are likely to show, according to research released Friday by Barclays Capital.

Moody’s puts Japan on review for downgrade

Moody’s Investors Service said Tuesday it put Japan’s Aa2 local and foreign currency bond ratings on review for possible downgrade, due to long-term fiscal concerns in the wake of the March disaster. It also cited concerns that government policy would continue to fall short of reducing the country’s deficit “on a timely basis,” as well as Japan’s vulnerability to demographic pressures and possible future shocks.

Japan’s industrial output swings to gain in April

Japan’s industrial production bounced back modestly in April after suffering a record-breaking tumble in March, while the unemployment rate rose modestly, and household spending slowed its fall. Industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 1.0% during April, after output fell 15.3% in March, the worst drop in the history of the data set. Japan’s jobless rate increased to 4.7% from March’s 4.6%. In March, household spending had plunged by 8.5% year-on-year.

Fitch lowers outlook on Japan sovereign debt

Fitch Ratings revised its outlook Friday on Japan's sovereign debt to negative from stable, citing rising government indebtedness, lack of policy direction in addressing its ageing population problem, and as yet unknown costs related to reconstruction efforts following the devastating tsunami and earthquake in March.

Fitch also said Japan's debt to GDP ratio is projected to rise 56 percentage points from the end of 2007 to the end of 2012, lagging behind only the banking-crisis-stricken economies of Ireland and Iceland. It said it cut its estimate of Japan economic growth rate this year by 0.5% owing to ongoing electrical power shortages, and added there was a risk of permanent loss of output.

Hong Kong, Japan stocks back on the rise

Hong Kong shares shook off an uncertain start to trade higher, and Japanese shares managed to stage a turnaround on Friday afternoon, with investors looking for bargains after recent losses. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1% to 23,117.59, paring weekly losses to 0.3%, helped by gains from PetroChina Co.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index wavered between gains and losses in the session, slipping 0.1% to 2,733.92.

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average edged up 0.2% to 9,578.42 in the afternoon session, as gains from Fujitsu Ltd. , up 3.5%, worked to offset losses related to a stronger yen.

Japan stocks rise

Japanese stocks climbed sharply in early Thursday trading, with energy shares among the top gainers following an overnight recovery in oil prices. The Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.9% to 9,510.49, while the Topix added 0.8% to 824.08

Japan swings to trade deficit as exports dive

Japan's exports shrank sharply in April, compared to the year-earlier period as the effects of the March 11 earthquake weighed on trade, though the drop was less than expected. April exports fell 12.5% year-on-year, while imports rose 8.9%, the Ministry of Finance reported Wednesday. The trade balance swung to a deficit of 463.7 billion yen ($5.65 billion) from a ¥729.2 billion surplus in April 2010. The drop in exports was the worst since October 2009.

Japanese Stocks Fall on Greek Debt Concern, Euro; Komatsu Drops

Japanese stocks fell for a third day after Fitch Ratings cut Greece’s credit rating, and as makers of construction equipment declined after Nomura Holdings Inc. said demand in China will drop. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 1.4 percent to 9,469.53 as of 12:37 p.m. in Tokyo. The broader Topix index declined 1.1 percent to 818.74, with more than three times as many stocks falling as rising.

Japan returns to recession

Japan’s economy shrank by almost double the margin economists had expected, as the country returned to recession with a second consecutive quarter of contraction.

The gross domestic product contracted by 0.9% during the January-March quarter, marking a 3.7% year-on-year drop, the Cabinet Office reported Thursday.