Japan’s GDP growth probably slowed in Q1

Capital Economics predict a 0.3% rise in Japan Q1 GDP (00.50 BST), which would be a touch slower than Q4's 0.4% q/q and would highlight that lower energy prices have yet to provide a boost to activity. 

A range of indicators suggest that growth will remain subdued in the current quarter. Sluggish economic activity in the first half of the year may well convince the BoJ to announce more stimulus at its July meeting.