— Japan Sep Current Account Surplus Y503.6 Bln, -68.7% Y/Y
— Japan Sep Current Account MNI Fcast: Y763.6 Bln Surplus, -52.6%
TOKYO (MNI) – Japan’s current account surplus shrank in September after
marking the first expansion in 18 months in August as exports continued to
dwindle amid the global slowdown, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on
Thursday.
The current account surplus stood at Y503.6 billion in September, down
68.7% from a year earlier. It was weaker than the median economist forecast in
an MNI survey for a surplus of Y763.6 billion, or a 52.6% fall.
Japan’s current account balance has been in surplus except for a rare
deficit in January 2012 due to slower shipments to China during Lunar New Year
holidays.
The income surplus, the largest component of the current account, fell 6.0%
on the year to Y1.31 trillion in September, marking the first fall in three
months.
Exports declined 10.5% in September from a year earlier, marking a fourth
straight fall, while imports increased 4.5% in September for the first rise in
two months.
The services account — including transport, travel and financial services
— posted a deficit of Y280.1 billion in September, compared with a shortfall of
Y90.4 billion a year earlier.
The combined goods and services accounts were in deficit by Y751.4 billion
in September, compared with a surplus of Y281.9 billion a year before.
–email: yseki@mni-news.com
–email: msato@mni-news.com
[TOPICS: MAJDS$,M$A$$$,M$J$$$]
