Japan's current account firmly in the red
Courtesy of SoberLook.com
Japan's current account continues to deteriorate, with the December number coming in below expectations – hitting a new low. For the whole of 2013 Japan showed the lowest surplus on record.
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| Source: Investing.com |
Energy imports and weaker yen continue to be the key culprits. Should oil prices rise further, the nation's deficit could worsen.
Bloomberg: – The yen’s slide and increased demand for foreign energy due to nuclear plants closures are causing imports to outstrip exports. A surplus in overseas investment income is staving off the risk of a sustained deficit that could undermine investor confidence in a nation with the world’s largest debt burden.
