Japan’s Economy Grows 1.7% in Quarter

Japan’s economy grew a faster-than-expected 1.7% in the three months to December as robust growth in the United States and China boosted exports and spurred investment. Defying worries about a strong yen, gross domestic product in October to December expanded an annualized 7%, government data showed. That beat forecasts for quarterly growth of 1.1% and annualized growth of 4.6%.

The figures mark the longest period of expansion in Japan since a nine-quarter run of growth that ended in early 1997.