Japanese exports rose more than forecast in February, supporting the nation’s emergence from a recession last year, Bloomberg reported. The value of overseas shipments rose 2.4% from a year earlier, the government said, compared with a median estimate for a 0.3% increase. Imports fell 3.6%, leaving a 424.6b yen ($3.5b) trade deficit. Sales abroad are a growing bright spot in a country that’s still struggling with weak spending by consumers and businesses at home. Falling oil prices are helping shrink the deficit, which swelled after Japan increased fossil-fuel purchases from abroad after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. The yen was little changed at 121.34 per dollar in Tokyo.
