Japan BOP current account data released earlier today
BoP Current Account Balance for December,
- expected ¥ 355.8B, prior ¥ 433.0B (for the 5th Fifth consecutive surplus)
BoP Current Account Adjusted for December:
- expected ¥ 940.8B, prior ¥ 914.5B
Trade Balance BoP Basis December:
- expected ¥ -472.0B, prior ¥ -636.8B
More now via Reuters:
- Sixth straight current account surplus
- Helped by income from overseas investments and a narrowing trade gap due to a weak yen and lower oil prices
And, via the Wall Street Journal:
- December's primary income surplus rose 24% on year to ¥1.02 trillion
- A record for the month, thanks to increased returns from foreign direct investment
- For all of 2014, Japan posted a ¥18.07 trillion income surplus, which was also the largest on record
- In December, the trade deficit shrank 63.1% to ¥395.6 billion
Note: The current account measures trade in goods, services, tourism and investment. It is calculated by determining the difference between Japan's income from foreign sources against payments on foreign obligations and excludes net capital investment.