Japan's core consumer inflation slowed for a third straight month in January but beat forecasts and held at the central bank's 2 per cent target, keeping alive expectations it will end negative interest rates by April. The 2.0 per cent increase beat median market forecasts for a 1.8 per cent rise, the internal affairs and communications ministry data showed on Tuesday, underscoring views waning cost-push inflation from commodity imports could ease the pain of higher living costs. However, the steady inflation also reaffirms expectations hefty pay hikes will be offered by big firms at labour-management wage talks on ... (full story)