Japan's industrial output up 1.5%

Japan's factory output rose 1.5 percent in September from the previous month, thanks to firm domestic demand for transport equipment and electrical parts, official data showed Wednesday. The expansion followed a revised 0.9 percent shrink in August, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. By sector, output for transport equipment makers gained 3.9 percent, while information and communication equipment makers saw a 4.9 percent expansion. The ministry upgraded its basic assessment of industrial production of the world's third-biggest economy for the first time in six months, saying "it is picking up." Since March, the ministry had said "the indicator shows signs of picking up at a moderate pace." Looking ahead, manufacturers polled by the ministry expect production will increase 4.7 percent in October and then drop 1.2 percent in November