JAPAN HOUSING STARTS RISE IN FEBRUARY

  Japan's housing starts in February rose
  13.4 pct from a year earlier to 109,254, the 10th successive
  year-on-year gain, the Construction Ministry said.
      February housing starts were up 16.8 pct from 93,554 in
  January when they fell 27.4 pct from a month earlier but rose
  10.3 pct from a year earlier.
      Higher housing starts were mainly due to a 26.8 pct
  year-on-year rise in apartment building starts to 51,829 for
  the 56th consecutive gain, spurred primarily by lower domestic
  interest rates.
   RUTER
  

