Japan govt says economy at standstill

TOKYO

In a monthly report, the government downgraded its assessment of the economy for the first time since Feb 2009. A senior Japanese official said further pressure on the economy, which is mired in stubborn deflation, could tip it into recession.

“If the economy turns out as expected in our main scenario, we may end up describing the current situation as a soft patch,” said the official at the Cabinet Office, which compiled the report. “But if it comes under further downward pressure, it could end up slipping into recession,” he said.

The government also cut its view on exports and industrial output, saying they were weakening,

which prompted the downgrade of its overall economic assessment.

A rise in the yen to a 15-year high against the dollar added to these woes.

Faltering recoveries from the global financial crisis in developed economies have pushed global investors into emerging markets in search of higher returns, driving up their currencies.

The move has been exacerbated by widespread expectations that the United States Federal Reserve will print billions of dollars to try to lift the US economy, sparking concerns that the extra liquidity will find its way into emerging markets.

Japan’s policymakers had earlier prompted the government to draw up a supplementary budget and the central bank to offer cheap loans and to promise to buy assets.

The government said it wanted the Bank of Japan to support the economy through “appropriate and flexible” monetary policy while the two branches work closely together — phrasing it used when it announced ¥5.05 trillion ($$80 billion) in stimulus spending on Oct 8.

The currency tensions will dominate a Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting in South Korea starting on Friday and a G20 summit in November, as officials look to tackle the economic imbalances and the threat of competitive currency devaluation.

“Currencies will be the topic that many people will be talking about ... at the G20. I hope that good ideas will be put forward there and we will explain the present situation in Japan,” Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said yesterday he wants to implement stimulus measures as quickly as possible to support the expansion of the economy. — Japan’s government said yesterday the economy was now at a standstill, highlighting the growing gulf between developed and emerging countries at the heart of global currency tensions.AGENCIES

at  S$0.160  ?

beTTer  tO  bUy

Or  swItch  tO

GENTING  SP  WARRANT  expIrIng  in  2013

Retail real estate sluggish: DTZ

SINGAPORE

Average prime rental rates along Orchard Road and Scotts Road remained unchanged in the third quarter, the firm said.

For the third straight quarter, gross rents of prime first-storey space in the area stayed at $39.70 per square foot per month.

Rents in other areas in the city continued to decline. Prime first storey rents in these areas fell by 0.8 per cent to $24.10 per square foot per month.

Monthly gross rents of prime first-storey retail space in the suburban malls, meanwhile, were unchanged at $33.60 per square foot per month.

DTZ said the new supply of retail space last year led to a competitive environment, which did not support any increase in rentals.

Some 1.3 million sq ft of new retail space became available last year.

Other than the newly-completed and pipeline supply that have put a lid on rentals, the two new integrated resorts also had an impact, DTZ said.

The integrated resorts siphoned off some demand for shopping as more people spend time and money at the casinos instead of at the malls, it noted.

But with a robust economic recovery taking place, DTZ said retail rents should increase gradually next year as the new supply is eventually absorbed.— Singapore’s retail real estate continues to be dogged by supply pressure, according to property consultancy DTZ.