GDP growth strengthening, volatile markets consolidate

April was a very volatile month for investors in Japan. For the month, the Tokyo Second Market fell by 2.2% and the Nikkei OTC by 1.9%. This has been part of the continued consolidation that investors in Japan have been witnessing during the first half of 2006. This was to be expected after the significant gains made last year, particularly the rapid move upward seen in late 2005. The Japanese economy continues to do well. Unemployment is at a seven-year low and wages are slowly increasing, consumer spending, accounting for over 50% of gross domestic product (GDP), is finally recovering an...