Japan posted a current account surplus of 587.3 billion yen in September, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday - remaining in the green for the eighth consecutive month.
The headline figure topped expectations for a surplus of 400.8 billion yen following the 161.5 billion yen surplus in August.
The surplus jumped 14.3 percent on year, also beating forecasts for a contraction of 10.4 percent following the 63.7 percent annual plummet a month earlier.
The trade balance reflected a deficit of 874.8 billion yen, missing forecasts for a shortfall of 853.9 billion yen after showing a deficit of 885.9 billion yen in August.
Exports jumped 12.0 percent on year to 5.717 trillion yen following the 14.1 percent increase in the previous month. Imports spiked an annual 18.2 percent to 6.592 trillion yen after climbing 16.4 percent a month prior.
The capital account saw a deficit of 17.7 billion yen in August after showing a 21.5 billion yen shortfall in August.
The financial account had a surplus of 231.0 billion yen after showing a 159.0 billion yen shortfall one month earlier.
The adjusted current account saw a deficit of 125.2 billion yen, missing expectations for a shortfall of 97.0 billion yen after coming in at a surplus of 351.8 billion in the previous month.
For the first half of fiscal year 2013, the current account showed a surplus of 3.054 trillion yen - up 10.7 percent on year.
The trade balance was a deficit of 4.666 trillion yen as exports gained 9.2 percent on year to 33.843 trillion yen and imports jumped an annual 14.5 percent to 38.510 trillion yen.
Also on Monday, the Bank of Japan said that total bank lending excluding trusts was up 2.3 percent on year in October, standing at 407.750 trillion yen. That was in line with forecasts and up from the 2.2 percent gain in September following a downward revision from 2.3 percent.
Including trusts, bank lending added an annual 2.0 percent to 469.818 trillion yen - unchanged and in line with forecasts. Lending from foreign banks jumped 8.1 percent on year to 2.298 trillion yen after shedding 4.1 percent in the previous month.
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