Japan's current accountsurplus rose by a faster-than-expected 50 per cent in April from a year earlier, underlining the continued strength of exports and the contribution a weak yen is making to overseas investment income.

Flat exports to the US were offset by healthy shipments to other Asian countries, pushing the trade balance up 34.7 per cent to Y1,300bn ($10.7bn, €8bn, £5.4bn). Exports climbed7.3 per cent, while imports rose a modest 3.2 per cent.