"We can't be optimistic going forward as things are getting worse overseas day by day"
- Azusa Kato, an economist at BNP Paribas SA
Japan's current account surplus shrunk in April, adding to signs global demand is cooling. Surplus contracted to 333.8 billion yen, said the Ministry of Finance on Friday.
"We can't be optimistic going forward as things are getting worse overseas day by day," said Azusa Kato, an economist at BNP Paribas SA in Tokyo. "Japan will probably maintain growth in the coming quarters because of reconstruction demand but it's not going to be as fast as last quarter."
Japanese stocks declined by the most in three weeks on Friday.
The Nikkei 225 erased 2.09 per cent, or 180.46 points, to 8,459.26. The broader Topix lost 1.78 per cent, or 13.01, to 717.74.
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