Japan's economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter on solid exports and consumption, data showed, though momentum will face a severe test as the full force of the energy shock from the Iran war filters through businesses and consumers.

TOKYO, May 19 : Japan's economy grew an annualised 2.1 per cent in the first quarter, government data showed on Tuesday, compared with the median market forecast for a 1.7 per…

The figure beat projections of 0.4% from Reuters-polled economists, and against the 0.3% in the last quarter.