Japan's core machinery orders fall more than forecast

Tokyo

JAPAN'S core machinery orders fell more than expected in April, casting doubt on the strength of companies' capital spending and adding to concerns about the country's fragile economic recovery.

The 3.1 per cent fall in the core orders from a month earlier was much bigger than the 1.3 per cent decline expected by economists in a Reuters poll, potentially dragging on economic growth in the current quarter.

It also marked the first drop in t…