Japan's trading firms give bleak outlook for commodity prices

Tokyo

JAPAN'S five biggest trading houses have given up hopes for a quick rebound in commodity prices, with top-ranked Mitsubishi revising its outlook for a recovery to 2018 from 2017.

Like international oil majors and mining companies, Japan's trading firms have been caught flat-footed by the rout in commodities brought about by softening demand from top consumer China where economic growth has slowed.