Categories: Retirement Planning and Investing

Japan’s 3Q Growth Hits Speed Bump

Chatham House

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.

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Paul Dykewicz

Paul Dykewicz is the editor of StockInvestor.com and the editorial director of Eagle Financial Publications in Washington, D.C. He writes and edits for the website, as well as edits investment newsletters, time-sensitive trading alerts and other reports published by Eagle. He also is an accomplished, award-winning journalist who has written for Dow Jones, USA Today and other publications, as well as served as business editor of a daily newspaper in Baltimore. In addition, Paul is the author of the inspirational book, "Holy Smokes! Golden Guidance from Notre Dame's Championship Chaplain." He received his MBA in finance from Johns Hopkins University, where he was a two-time president of the school's Finance Club. In addition, Paul has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Outside of work, Paul volunteers with a faith-based organization to assist the poor in Southeast Washington, D.C., to learn personal finance skills to lift themselves out of debt.