JAPAN

Slow Recovery Predicted: The leaders of Japan’s four most powerful business associations said the ailing economy will improve this year but that the recovery will be spotty and slow. Shoichiro Toyoda, chairman of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, predicted growth of between 2% and 3% this year after a rise of less than 2% in 1994. He said full recovery has not started yet because of the yen’s high foreign exchange value, which cuts into Japanese export profits, and a lack of investment in new plants and equipment.