Japan's GDP grows annualized real 3.5 pct in Q1

The Japanese economy grew an annualized real 3.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013, according to the government data released on Thursday.

The result compares with the average market projection of 2.8 percent growth in a Kyodo News survey.

The rise in the January-March inflation-adjusted gross domestic product corresponds to a 0.9 percent increase from the previous quarter against the average forecast of a 0.7 percent gain.