Japan machinery orders hit by worst-ever slump in September, raise capex doubts

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's core machinery orders tumbled by the most on record in September, the Cabinet office said on Thursday, after a severe earthquake and typhoons disrupted business activity.The 18.3 percent slump in machinery orders far outpaced the median market estimate for a 10.0 percent decline and follows a 6.8 percent increase in August.Despite the slump, manufacturers surveyed by the government expect core machinery orders to rise 3.6 percent in October-December after a 0.9 percent..