JAPAN

Bankruptcies Hit ’92 High: Bankruptcies jumped 20.7% in October to the highest level of the year, with the economic slowdown causing more damage than the collapse in stock and land prices, a private research group said. The Tokyo Commerce & Industry Research Co. said the number of bankruptcies involving debts of over 10 million yen ($81,300) reached 1,293 in October, 7.8% more than September. Business failures have risen above year-earlier levels for 25 consecutive months since October, 1990.