Yen Falls Toward Seven-Year Low as Industrial Production Shrinks

The yen declined toward a seven-year low against the dollar after government reports showed industrial production shrank in November and inflation slowed.Japan™s currency fell versus all of its 16 major counterparts as the data added to speculation the central bank will introduce more stimulus measures to try to raise the economy out of recession. The dollar headed for a second weekly gain versus the euro after data this week showed the...

Japan Shares Swing as Investors Weigh Data on Inflation, Output

Japanese shares fluctuated, with the Topix index headed for a weekly advance, as investors assessed data on inflation, industrial output and retail sales. Shippers rose while tiremakers fell.The Topix added less than 0.1 percent to 1,421.54 as of 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo, after retreating as much as 0.1 percent. The measure is poised for a 0.9 percent gain this week. The Nikkei 225 Stock...

Japan’s Inflation Slows for Fourth Month in Challenge to Kuroda

Japan™s inflation rate slowed for a fourth straight month, adding to central bank chief Haruhiko Kuroda™s challenges in reflating the world™s third-biggest economy.Consumer prices excluding fresh food increased 2.7 percent in November from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said today, matching a median projection in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Stripped of the effect...