January 9, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 24, 1422

TOKYO, Jan 8: Japan Inc. can expect another tough year in 2002 as the number of bankruptcies threatens to break record highs amid a deep economic slump, analysts warned on Tuesday.

Since there is no clear prospect for an immediate economic recovery, it is likely that bankruptcies and their liabilities will increase further this year, said Hitoshi Suzuki, an analyst at Daiwa Research Institute.

Oversupply of workforce, mounting bad debts and a reduction in public works will continue to pressure ailing sectors such as construction, wholesale and certain services, he said.—AFP