JAPAN HOUSING STARTS RISE IN FEBRUARY Japan's housing starts in February rose 13.4 pct from a year earlier to 109,254, the 10th successive year-on-year gain, the Construction Ministry said. February housing starts were up 16.8 pct from 93,554 in January when they fell 27.4 pct from a month earlier but rose 10.3 pct from a year earlier. Higher housing starts were mainly due to a 26.8 pct year-on-year rise in apartment building starts to 51,829 for the 56th consecutive gain, spurred primarily by lower domestic interest rates. RUTER