Capital investment by Japanese companies expanded 2.2 percent in the April-June quarter from a year earlier on an all-industry basis for the second consecutive quarter of increase, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
Manufacturers spent 3.4 percent more on plant and equipment, the first upturn in eight quarters, largely because of brisk investment by information technology firms, according to the ministry's quarterly survey on corporate activity.
Spending by nonmanufacturers rose 1.6 percent -- the third consecutive quarter of increase -- making it the first time in eight quarters that investment by both manufacturers and nonmanufacturers has risen.