May machinery orders +5.9% sequential vs. consensus estimate of 2.6% and high-end estimate of 5.0%.

Nikkei 225 Stock Average up ~100 yen to ~18,240. Yen also weakening towards 123.5/US$, supporting exporter stocks. Nikkei could test ytd & multi-year intra-day and closing highs above 18,300 and 18,240, respectively.