Tracks trends in machine tool orders placed by major manufacturers in Japan . Machine Tool Orders is considered a leading indicator of business capital spending, and increases are indicative of stronger business confidence and a better future outlook. Higher capital spending is also positive for the Japanese employment situation, as companies will generally require new employees to run and maintain new machinery.

The Machine Tool Orders figure tracks closely with the Machine Orders figure put out by the Economic and Social Research Institute, but tend to affect the market more since it is released nearly a month earlier.

The headline figure is the percentage change from the previous month or year.

Relevance : Rarely affects markets
Release schedule : 5:00 (GMT); monthly, in the second week of the following month
Revisions schedule : No revisions
Source of report : Japan Machine Tool Builders Association (JMTBA)
Web Address : http://www.jmtba.or.jp/english/
Address of release : http://www.jmtba.or.jp/english/main_Frame03.html