JAPAN

Companies Should Downsize, Agency Says: Japanese companies, facing tough economic times, should downsize their operations by cutting development costs and sales expenses, the Economic Planning Agency said in its annual report. “Japanese companies should promote restructuring (in the current economic slump), focusing on improving profitability in their core business and streamlining less profitable business,” the report said. The agency urged companies to cut their costs for advertising, transportation, entertainment and personnel. It also advised them to scale back business and development costs.