Japan's factory output and retail sales both contract by 1%

Japan's factory output and retail sales both fell 1% in November, suggesting that a clear recovery in the world's third-largest economy will be delayed until 2016. On Friday, the country was hit with a raft of disappointing figures, including inflation data, household spending, jobless claims and falling incomes. The numbers could also put more pressure on the Bank of Japan to expand its stimulus program, which was last fine-tuned on Dec. 18 to ensure it can maintain and accelerate its money-printing.