TOKYO, Jan 12 (NNN-NHK) – Japan logged a current account surplus of 897.3 billion yen (7.8 billion U.S. dollars) in Nov, the Finance Ministry said in a report today.
The ministry also said, in its preliminary report that, the country had a goods trade deficit of 431.3 billion yen, while services trade stood at a deficit of 214.2 billion yen, the ministry said.
Japan’s primary income, meanwhile, which reflects returns on investments made overseas, logged a surplus of 1.79 trillion yen.
Japan’s current account surplus is one of the broadest measures of its trade with the rest of the world.
The data is keenly eyed by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and the Finance Ministry, ahead of new potential policy changes or monetary easing or tapering measures.
In Japan the current account surplus increases the nation’s net foreign assets by the corresponding amount, and a current account deficit does the reverse.
Both the Japanese government and private payments are included in the calculation.– NNN-NHK
