Japan's economic expansion slows sharply.

 Japan's GDP growth unexpectedly slumped to 1.4% in Q2 from 5.5% in Q1, coming in well below forecasts of 2.3% and hurt by weak consumer spending. The strong yen - cruising near an all-time high vs. the greenback for much of the last year, and hitting record highs vs. the euro - also gets plenty of ink, but demographic math is surely working against speedy growth as well.