INTERNATIONAL

Growth of Japanese Bank Lending Declines: Lending by Japanese banks for the third quarter rose 1.3% on the year, slowing from last year’s growth rate in a reflection of weak cash demand from Japanese businesses hit by the recession, according to a release by the Bank of Japan. Amid the prolonged economic slump, Japanese companies are suspending new capital investment, which makes demand for lending sluggish, although Japan’s interest rates are at record-low levels, economists said.