Japan's gross domestic product added a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Cabinet Office said in Wednesday's preliminary reading, cited by rttnews.

That was shy of expectations for a gain of 0.2 percent and down from 0.6 percent in the third quarter.

On an annualized basis, GDP gained 0.4 percent - again missing expectations for 1.0 percent and down from the downwardly revised 2.2 percent increase in the three months prior (originally 2.5 percent).

Nominal GDP was flat on quarter, missing forecasts for a gain of 0.4 percent and down from 0.6 percent in the third quarter.