Japan's economy showed unexpected resilience in the third quarter of this year, with an annual growth rate of 2% as robust exports and capital spending offset weak consumer spending.
The strong performance prompted renewed speculation about a rise in Japan's super-low interest rates within the next few months.
Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.5% from the previous three-month period, the seventh straight quarter of positive growth.
The figures beat market expectations for quarterly growth of about 0.3% and an annual 1.2% rate, and meant Japan outpaced the US economy which posted annual growth of 1.6% in the same period.
The third quarter performance was patchy, however, with private consumption, which accounts for nearly 55% of the Japanese economy, dipping 0.7%.
