AUTOS

Japan Feeling Heat to Open Markets: American and Japanese negotiators are preparing for talks this week on the trade of automobile and car parts amid heightened pressure on Tokyo from currency markets to strike a deal to open the country’s car markets. “The pressure on currency will be one factor that will push (the Japanese) toward agreement,” said Gregory Mastel, trade analyst at the Economic Strategy Institute. Low-level talks on technical issues are set for today and Thursday, while higher-level negotiations on policy issues are scheduled for two days next week starting Monday.