Japanese factory output rises for first time in three months

Tokyo

JAPAN on Monday posted its first factory output expansion in three months, official data showed, offering some rare good news after a string of weak figures threw cold water on recovery hopes.

The upbeat figures - a 3.7 per cent rise on-month in January - comes as investors look for clues about the state of the world's No 3 economy.

Disappointing inflation numbers last week stirred speculation that the Bank of Japan will have to unleash more monetary easing to boost prices and growth.

Japanese businesses have remained cautious over investing in their businesses and offering significant wage increases, citing the uncertain …