Japanese Firms Boost Spending as Takaichi Makes Investment Push

Japan’s biggest companies increased capital spending in the final quarter of last year, indicating firmer corporate sentiment as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushes for more investment in strategic sectors.

Capital expenditure on goods excluding software rose 4% from the previous quarter in the three months through December, after outlays were flat in the summer, the Finance Ministry reported Tuesday. In the preliminary gross domestic product report for the fourth quarter, corporate investment was reported to have expanded at a much more moderate pace of 0.2%.

Non-manufacturers boosted investment by 6.5% while manufacturers trimmed spending a tad versus the prior period. ...