Japan corporate capex rises 1.6% on year in April-June

TOKYO, Sept 1 : Japanese corporate spending on plant and equipment rose 1.6 per cent in April-June versus the same period a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Tuesday, signalling domestic demand was underpinning the economy.The result, which will be used to calculate revised gross domestic product figures due on September 8, is likely to support the case for the central bank to raise its policy interest rate at its next board decision on September 18.Preliminary data last month showed the economy expanded by an annualised 1.1 per cent over the three months, slowing from 1.9 per cent in the previous quarter due to softer household and business spending.The capital spending figure compared with a near-flat result in the previous quarter. Spending grew 1.5 per cent on a seasonal