Toyota profit up 5% on stronger US sales

Japan's Toyota has reported a 4.7% year-on-year rise in net income for the three months to December, to 627.9bn yen ($5.37bn; £3.7bn), due in part to stronger sales in the US.

The company, the world's biggest carmaker, also raised its North America sales forecast for the full year to March, because of the higher US demand. 

Japan adopts Negative Interest rate in Ssurprise Move

The benchmark rate of -0.1% means that the central bank will charge commercial banks 0.1% on some of their deposits. 

It hopes this will encourage banks to lend, and counter the ongoing economic slump in the world's third-largest economy.

The European Central Bank also has negative rates, however, it is a first for Japan.