9 seconds ago 2009-12-04T07:50:04-08:00
TOKYO (AFP) – Japan's current account surplus edged up 0.2 percent in September from a year earlier as a higher trade surplus offset a drop in gains on portfolio and other investment, official data showed on Tuesday.
The surplus in the current account -- the broadest measure of trade with the rest of the world -- rose to 1.57 trillion yen (17.4 billion dollars) in the month, the finance ministry said.
The world's second largest economy logged a trade surplus of 599.2 billion yen, up 87.1 percent from a year earlier.
Exports were down 32.1 percent to 4.78 trillion yen while imports fell by a steeper 37.7 percent to 4.18 trillion yen.
The surplus in the income account, which includes investment income, tumbled 27.2 percent to 1.08 trillion yen due to lower gains on securities investment.
