Japan’s export growth stays solid, AI

Japan’s export growth remained solid in September, with shipments of chips and cars rising. The value of exports rose 16.7% from a year earlier, the Finance Ministry reported Wednesday. That missed economists’ median forecast of a 21.3% increase. Exports have risen for 13 straight months. Imports rose 18.9%, compared with economists’ estimate of a 20.4% advance. The trade balance was an unadjusted ¥536 billion ($3.4 billion) deficit, compared with a ¥1.1 trillion deficit in August. The gain in exports highlighted ongoing demand related to artificial intelligence. Shipments of semiconductors and chip-making equipment surged 49.4% and 43.9%, respectively. Car exports gained…