Japan factory output inches down in March

Japan's factory output fell by a less-than-expected 0.3 percent in March, data showed Thursday, but the still-weak statistics underscored an uncertain recovery in the world's number three economy. The reading from Japan's trade ministry marked an improvement from the 3.1 percent drop registered in February, and beat the market median forecast for a 2.3 percent drop in a survey of economists by the Nikkei business daily. A survey of manufacturers' output projections released w