Japan exports drop 10.3% as trade deficit widens

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch)
Japanese exports fell 10.3% in September, compared to a year earlier, while imports rose 4.1%, the Ministry of Finance reported Monday
The drop in exports outpaced expectations for a 10% decrease, according to a Dow Jones Newswires survey
The trade results led to a deficit of 558.6 billion yen ($7 billion), outpacing expectations for a ¥547.9 billion trade gap
The weak performance for exports came as shipments to China fell by just over 14% for the month, while those to Western Europe tumbled 26%,far outweighing a 0.9% increase in U.S.-bound exports