Bloomberg Japan posted a bigger-than-forecast trade deficit in January as auto exports declined and energy import costs increased. Economists cautioned against reading the single month’s figures negatively, noting that global demand should support Japan exports this year. Exports rose 1.3 percent from a year earlier (versus +5 percent estimate). Imports climbed for the first time in two years, by …

  Bloomberg Oasis Management Co.’s Seth Fischer increased his pressure on Panasonic Corp. to sweeten its offer for listed subsidiary PanaHome Corp., calling the transaction a test case of whether Japan’s corporate governance overhaul is working. Oasis will ask the courts to rule on whether the price is fair if shareholders approve the deal on current terms, Fischer said in …

  Bloomberg The half of Russia’s economy that hasn’t got wind of a recovery is already hunkering down for the crisis to come. Once indispensable for the country’s prospects, consumption flat-lined well below zero throughout last year even as the broader economy defied gloom. From the ruble to industrial output and wages, Russia is on the up and up. But …