Japan Leading Index Rises in July but Misses Expectations

Japan’s Leading Index increased 1.5% month over month in July, improving from a flat reading previously but coming in below the 1.7% market forecast.

The index level rose to 117.7 from 116.5, although it also missed expectations of 118.1.

The data suggest Japan’s forward-looking economic indicators improved during July, but not quite as strongly as economists had expected.