Japan exports rise 5.1% year/year in December

TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japanese exports rose 5.1% year-on-year in December, up for a fourth straight month, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Thursday.

The result compared with a 6.1% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

Imports grew 5.3% in December from a year earlier, versus a 3.6% increase expected by economists.

As a result, the trade balance stood at a surplus of 105.7 billion yen ($667.59 million), compared with the forecast of a surplus of 356.6 billion yen.

($1 = 158.3300 yen)