Japan’s economy was also under increasing strain, with GDP figures today coming in far below economist’ forecasts, hitting Tokyo shares even though reaction in the currency market was muted, Reuters reports. The world’s third-largest economy shrank by 1.6 percent in the three months to December, the largest drop in six years, hit by sales tax increase. The yen stood at 109.81 yen per dollar, little moved in a tight range for more than a week.

Source: The Standard February 17, 2020 03:33 UTC