*** Japanese August Core Machine Orders.......>

JAPAN: *** Japanese August Core Machine Orders came in up 3.4%, their second

straight month of improvements and at the highest level seen since July 2016,

plus a lot higher than Bloomberg surveys. 

- Analysts say this could be a signal of a pick up in capital expenditure backed

by demand for refurbishments and a investment in infrastructure ahead of the

2020 Olympics. 

- The Tankan Survey reported last week that big firms want to increase capital

spending by 7.7% this fiscal year, lower than previously reported which

contradicts the above... Nonetheless analysts believe this improvement in

machine orders could support President. Abe in the coming snap election after

instilling a little faith in his 'Abenomics' for the future of the economy. 

- Overseas orders which are not included in the core figure grew 11.5% with

large orders for aircraft.