What's that whirring noise? It's Japan's machinery-makers at work, in contrast to investors' expectations. Results from Fanuc Corp. and Komatsu were a mixed bag Monday. Factory-automation giant Fanuc reported an 8.4 percent drop in fiscal first-half operating income and saw its shares rise, while construction-equipment-maker ...

Abe can't yield much on agriculture, while U.S. cars face few barriers — and few buyers — in Japan.

Motor maker Nidec, a bellwether for manufacturing trends, has been investing heavily in automation.

Automakers are engaged in an evolutionary struggle, and only the fittest will survive.