The rise in exports was the biggest since January 2015 and the sixth consecutive month of increases, Japan's Ministry of Finance said. Economists polled by the Nikkei had expected a Y73.0 billion surplus. In May, Japan often posts a deficit due to a stretch of holidays that limits exports, a finance ministry official said. Japan's trade surplus with the U.S. in May rose 19.0% to Y411.1 billion, rising for the first time in three months. That figure has captured attention after President Donald Trump named Japan as one of the nations contributing to the U.S. trade deficit.

Source: Wall Street Journal June 19, 2017 02:03 UTC