Japan posts first factory output increase in 3 mths

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 percent rise on-month in January — comes as investors look for clues about the state of the world’s number three economy, as disappointing inflation figures last week stirred speculation the Bank of Japan will have to unleash more monetary easing to boost growth.