JAPAN DATA: Orders for Japanese machine tools totaled Y106.9 billion in April, up 32.3% on year, with the pace of growth decelerating from a revised +49.6% in March and posting the smallest gain since -8.4% marked in November 2009, data released by Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association show. The April orders showed a relatively small y/y rise mainly because orders marked a robust 220.9% gain in the same month of 2010, an association official said, adding that the negative impact of the March 11 earthquake disaster on machine tool orders has been limited so far. Orders from the domestic market, which are seen as a leading indicator for Japan's core machinery orders (March data due May 16), rose 50.6% on year, also slowing from a revised +66.1% in March. Orders from overseas, which account for about 70% of overall orders, increased 25.4%, compared with a revised +44.0% in March.