Japan’s government stuck to its assessment that the economy is slowly recovering on Thursday but raised its view on exports, saying overseas shipments are showing signs of stabilising on a moderate pickup in the United States and some return in Asian demand. It said in a monthly report that the pace of decline in consumer prices has eased but Japan remains in mild deflation, a slight change from the previous report when it just said the economy was in mild deflation. “The economy is still picking up slowly, while difficulties continue to prevail due to the earthquake,? the Cabinet office said in the report for April, the sixth straight month it has used the same expression.

Emerging market growth accelerates, says HSBC

Emerging-market economies probably grew at fastest pace in nine months in the first quarter as manufacturing rebounded from a slump and services expanded, according to HSBC Plc, which cited a purchasing-managers survey. The HSBC Emerging Markets Index, which is compiled by London-based Markit Economics and tracks conditions at more than 5,000 reporting companies, advanced to 53.4 from 52.4 in the previous three months, the first increase in three quarters.

Global trade expected to slow in 2012, says WTO

Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and other economic shocks are expected to slow the growth in global exports to just 3.7% in 2012, the World Trade Organization said on Thursday. That comes after a slowdown to 5% in 2011 and 13.8% in 2010, the global trade body said in its annual report. The figures represent the total volume of merchandise exported across borders, accounting for changes in prices and exchange rates. The forecasts are nevertheless uncertain due to potential volatility caused by the euro zone crisis, US debt concerns, economic aftershocks of the Japan earthquake and nuclear crisis.

JPMorgan on top in revenue war: Study

US group JPMorgan kept its top position in investment banking revenue last year, with Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse losing most ground in a tough year for the industry, a study showed on Thursday. The world?s 10 top investment banks all saw revenues drop in 2011 from the year before, as the euro zone crisis hit dealmaking and trading confidence, according to a report by industry analytics group coalition.

UK will respond in kind to Myanmar democracy: PM

British PM David Cameron indicated on Thursday he is likely to push for sanctions against Myanmar to be eased quickly after he makes a landmark visit to the long-isolated state this week. If Burma moves towards democracy then we should respond in kind, and we should not be slow in doing that. But first I want to and see for myself how things are going, Cameron told the BBC when asked about the sanctions. Myanmar has been the target of Western sanctions for years due to human rights abuses by the military rulers, who came to power in a 1962 coup.

Sarkozy summons Peugeot CEO over threatened plant

French president Nicolas Sarkozy weighed in on PSA Peugeot Citroen’s industrial woes on Thursday, summoning chief executive Philippe Varin to the Elysee Palace and promising talks with unions and management over a threatened car plant. ?I promised to get an agreement from Peugeot’s management on a three-way meeting next week with Peugeot, its unions and the government,? Sarkozy said after meeting leaders of the protest delegation.