	japan corporate profits in last quarter up current profits of japan s major firms in the october december quarter rose four pct from a year earlier to billion yen against a pct year on year rise in the preceding quarter the finance ministry said the improved ings resulted mainly from a pct profit increase in non manufacturing industries supported by an pct rise for construction firms and a pct gain in real estate according to a ministry survey total sales of the firms with capital of mln yen or more which responded to the poll fell one pct to billion yen against a pct fall the previous quarter current profits of manufacturing industries in the fourth quarter dropped pct to billion yen against a pct fall in the preceding quarter the ministry said plant and equipment investments of all firms polled fell pct to billion yen compared with a percent fall the previoius quarter ministry officials said the survey showed that the japanese economy is in a delicate stage in which it is hard to tell if economic growth has stopped deteriorating or if the economy is heading for a recovery reuter 
