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Japan logged its fourth straight monthly trade deficit in October as the European debt crisis and strained business ties with China over a territorial dispute reduced exports. The ministry of finance said Wednesday that imports exceeded exports by 549 billion yen ($6.7 billion), the biggest deficit for October since at least 1979, when the ministry began keeping comparable records. Exports for the month fell 6.5% from a year earlier to 5.150 trillion yen ($62.9 billion), while imports slipped 1.6% to 5.699 trillion yen. For years, Japan ran huge trade surpluses, which frequently caused trade friction with the US.

Japan’s Abe says strong economy tops his agenda

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that he will spearhead economic recovery and strengthen Japan's military if his party regains control in elections next month. “We will recover Japan,” Abe said as he issued his campaign platform at a news conference at his party headquarters in Tokyo. “We will rebuild the economy.” Abe promised to achieve 3% nominal economic growth through intensive reform programmes over the next five years. He also set a 2% inflation target, promising to use bold monetary policy to get the country out of deflation. Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda dissolved the lower house of parliament Friday, paving the way for elections. His ruling party is expected to give way to a weak coalition government divided over how to tackle Japan's myriad problems.

China goes austere on bank executives’ perks

China will ban executives from state-owned

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