MNI 5 THINGS: Japan Sept Machine Orders Plunge on Disasters

--Sept Core Machinery Orders -18.3% M/m Vs Median -9.9% 

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's core machinery orders excluding those for power

generation equipment and ships registered the steepest monthly decline ever in

September after natural disasters in western Japan slowed activities. 

     The following lists key points from the data by the Cabinet Office:

     - Core orders fell 18.3% over August, snapping two months of gain. The

median of a survey of 13 economist forecast surveyed by MNI projected a 9.9%

fall. 

     - October-December core orders are expected to post the 6th quarterly gain

of 3.6% after 0.9% in July-September due to the good sentiment of manufacturers,

the office said.

     - The three-month moving average of core orders dropped 0.9% for the period

ending September 30 after a rebound of average 2.8% for June-August.

     - The office maintained its assessment of the industry "showing sign of

picking up", even as orders fell sharply in September.

     - Orders from the manufacturing sector fell 17.3% in September from August,

in line with the declining total orders. Orders from the non-manufacturing

sector, excluding power generation and ships, also fell 17.1%, the first in

three months.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

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