Companies Moves: Business Year and Spending Plans

companies moves: Business investment accounts for almost one-fifth of activity in the world's third-biggest economy, and has been one of its few bright spots, according to The Japan Times. Driving spending are companies' moves to refurbish old equipment and pour money into automation, high-tech and labor-saving technology to cope with a shortage of workers in a fast-aging society. Delaying improvements in factories, equipment and technology could be a precursor to cutting investments altogether at a time when profits appear to be levelling off and the outlook for consumption the bulk of economic activity is dimming. ; One firm in five has already cut its initial spending plans at home and overseas for the business year to March, the survey by Reuters found, while two-thirds say they're sticking to their plans. The findings pose a challenge to Abe's namesake economic reforms, known as Abenomics, which have sought to generate sustainable growth through private-sector demand and investment. Manufacturers' confidence hit a six-and-a-half-year low in September, the business sentiment survey showed Thursday. The monthly survey results come as the escalating U.S.-China trade war and global slowdown hurt factory output and exports. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.