INTERNATIONAL

Yen Pushes Japan Trade Surplus to New High: The figure rose to $145.02 billion in the previous business year, from $142.98 billion, inflated by the effect of the strong yen on the value of Tokyo’s exports. But Japan’s giant current account surplus, the broadest measure of trade in goods and services, dipped about 4%--its first drop in four years--to $125.01 billion in the year ended March 31, from a record $130.49 billion a year ago, the Finance Ministry said. Economists said they expect the surplus in the current account to keep shrinking, but at a slower pace due to the so-called J-curve effect of the stronger yen.