BOJ raises assessment for two of Japan's nine regions

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan on Thursday raised its assessment for two of Japan's nine regions and maintained its view for the remaining seven.

"All regions were seeing their economies expand or recover" as exports increase as a trend and private consumption rises moderately, the central bank said in a quarterly report.

"But an increasing number of firms were pointing to some effects, such as declining orders, from uncertainties regarding overseas economies including the U.S.-Chinese trade friction," the report said.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Chris Gallagher)