Japanese Managers Say Economy Is Deteriorating, 97% say US economy is the biggest concern

[Bluebear]

March 17 (Bloomberg) -- Almost 24 percent of the presidents and chairmen of Japanese companies contacted by the Nikkei newspaper this month said the nation's economy was deteriorating. In a December survey, 7.5 percent gave the same answer.

A total of 134 executives, including Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. President Fumio Ohtsubo and Honda Motor Co. President Takeo Fukui, gave valid responses. About 28 percent said the economy was improving, down from 64 percent in December.

Fifty percent said Japanese companies' capital investments are either slowing or have already slowed. The U.S. economy is the biggest concern for 97 percent of the respondents, the newspaper said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aYiYzu8t2viY&refer=japan