Japan's factory activity improves in April but more virus measures loom

TOKYO: Japan's factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in more than three years in April, a private business survey showed on Friday, even as expected coronavirus emergency measures clouded the outlook for the world's third-largest economy.

But activity in the service sector contracted for a 15th month, the survey showed. Services companies are likely to take the biggest hit from a surge in COVID-19 cases and new emergency curbs expected to be rolled out in key prefectures from Sunday.