Japan’s 3Q Growth Hits Speed Bump (CNBC)
After first and second quarter growth rates of 4.1 and 3.8 percent, respectively, Japan’s economic growth is expected to take a breather before revving back up in the fourth quarter of this year. According to a Reuter’s poll, Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP) will only rise by 1.7 percent, less than half of the two previous quarters of 2013. So is this downturn merely a blip on Japan’s radar screen, or does it signal a critical misfire for Abenomics — the program name coined in honor of Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, it’s creator. Well, according to Long Hunhua Wang, a Japanese economist at RBS, it’s a mild hiccup, “Domestic demand remains robust and there is momentum there…” So, if you’re considering re-entering the Japanese investment scene, now might be a good time to buy the dips.