JAPAN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION RISES IN FEBRUARY Japan's industrial production index (base 1980) rose 0.3 pct to a seasonally adjusted 122.7 in February from the previous month, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said. Output fell 0.5 pct in January from a month earlier. The preliminary, unadjusted February index rose 0.6 pct from a year earlier after a 0.5 pct year-on-year rise in January The adjusted February producers' shipment index (base 1980) rose 0.7 pct to 118.5 from January when it fell 0.7 pct from December. The unadjusted shipment index rose 1.4 pct from a year earlier after a 1.0 pct year-on-year January gain. The adjusted February index of producers' finished goods (base 1980) fell 1.3 pct to 104.5 from January when it fell 0.3 pct from December. The unadjusted index fell 3.5 pct from a year earlier after a 2.3 pct year-on-year drop in January. A 2.7 pct rise by the electronics industry on higher output of facsimile machines and video tape recorders was a major contributor to the rise in February industrial output, though car production fell from January. The official said industrial production is expected to rise 3.2 pct in March on higher production by machinery, steel and chemical makers but will drop 3.4 pct in April on a downturn in the output of those industries. He gave no further details.