Japan GDP growth lowered to 5.6% in third quarter

Japan's key economic growth figure was revised down to an annualised 5.6 percent in the July-September quarter from 6.0 percent announced previously, data showed Friday. On a quarterly basis, gross domestic product growth was 1.4 percent in July-September, revised down from 1.5 percent, government figures showed. The downward revision was expected after the government said last week it was lowering its capital spending estimate, a key element in calculating gross domestic product. But on an annualised basis the data was stronger than analysts' expectations of a 5.2 percent revised gain, according to Dow Jones Newswires. Japan's third-quarter economic expansion was its first growth in four quarters and came after the earthquake and tsunami disaster in March.