Japan logged its first current account surplus in four months in February, with profits from the securities investments income account outweighing the trade deficit, preliminary data showed Monday.

The surplus in the balance, one of the widest gauges of international trade, stood at ¥637.4 billion, down 47.0 percent from the year before, the Finance Ministry said in the report.

The current account balance will likely need more time to gain strength. The income account, which reflects how much Japan earns from foreign investments, logged a surplus of ¥1.407 trillion, up 13.1 percent from a year ago, helped by higher dividends and profits from securities investments aided by a weaker yen. The surplus marked the third consecutive month of gains.