STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 10 February 2012

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51. Core machinery orders plunge 7.1% {japan}

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20120210a3.html

Key machinery orders dropped a sharper than expected 7.1 percent in December to ¥733.2 billion, the first decline in two months, affected by weakness in some technology sectors, government data showed.

Core private-sector orders, excluding those for ships and from utilities, marked a downturn following a strong 14.8 percent expansion of in November, the data showed Thursday.

The seasonally adjusted figure for orders, an indicator of future capital spending by companies, logged a 5 percent fall, also weaker than market forecasts.

Analysts said the contraction was due largely to a reaction to the previous month's gains.