TOKYO—Profits at Japan’s top banks were hurt by negative interest rates and a stronger yen in the fiscal first half, highlighting challenges in the banking industry. Japan’s biggest lender, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. or MUFG, reported net ... ( read original story ...)
RPT-Japanese private equity emerging from its torpor
GOOD YEAR TO RAISE FUNDS As Japan's central bank implemented a policy of negative interest rates at the beginning of the year, exacerbating the difficulty of finding investment yield in an era of low returns, more investors started to look at private ... ( read original story ...)
WRAPUP 2-Japan top banks' H1 profits hit by Bank of Japan's negative rate policy
* MUFG H1 net profit down 18 pct to 490.5 bln yen * Mizuho H1 net profit falls 7 pct to 358.2 bln yen * SMFG H1 net profit drops 7.5 pct to 359.2 bln yen * Negative interest rates hurt banks' bottom lines By Taiga Uranaka TOKYO, Nov 14 Japan's top banks ... ( read ...
Central bank plays trump card early to shock markets straight
TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan last week offered to buy bonds at a fixed yield to curb rising interest rates, playing what was seen as an ultimate trump card far earlier than many expected. The BOJ announced its first-ever fixed-rate purchase operation on the ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's Asakawa says Trump presidency won't change Japan forex policy: Nikkei
TOKYO Japan's top currency diplomat Masatsugu Asakawa said there will be no change to Japan's currency policy after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump forms his administration, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday. Japan guides exchange-rate policy ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Nikkei PMI Points to Sustained Manufacturing Growth in November
A private gauge of Japanese manufacturing activity weakened unexpectedly this month, but remained firmly in positive territory as output, new orders and exports rose. The Markit/Nikkei flash manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 51.1 ... ( read original story ...)
Japan stocks rise to near 11-mth high, dollar bulls continue charge
The common currency has dropped nearly 4 percent so far in November. Japan's Nikkei was up 1.1 percent, touching its highest level since early January. "If you want to hedge or profit from a 'make America normal again' trade the best way is through ... ( read original story ...)
Japanese stocks could be ready to take off
Credit Suisse upgraded Japanese equities to overweight and increased its mid-2017 target for the Nikkei to 20,000. The outlook was based on the expectation of a weaker yen adding to Japanese company earnings. The Bank of Japan is expected to increase ... ( read original story ...)
The Japanese yen is whipping around after a powerful earthquake shook the nation
a Tsunami three metres high may strike Japan’s east coast. Residents in the region, including the Fukushima prefecture, have been advised to flee coastal areas. Here’s the USD/JPY chart: Markets Insider Read the original article on Business Insider ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s nuclear-reactor export business loses a customer in Vietnam
HANOI – Vietnam’s National Assembly has voted to abandon plans to build two nuclear power plants with Russia and Japan, after officials cited lower demand forecasts, rising costs and safety concerns. The vote Tuesday to scrap the country’s first ... ( read original story ...)
Economic partnership with Japan has developed extending beyond trade and tourism- SLJBCC President
The President of the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Co-operation Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Daya Weththasinghe says that in recent years, Sri Lanka’s economic partnership with Japan has developed extending beyond trade and tourism. ( read original story ...)
Japan's lesson from earthquakes: Spend before the earth shakes
The one-day event on Monday – organized by the Japanese and B.C. governments – attracted about 100 provincial, local government, emergency, academic, business, engineering and aid representatives. The forum was held as the B.C. government is attempting ... ( read original story ...)
Kitchen Pro Files: Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, Master of Nikkei Cuisine
Combining his Japanese and Peruvian heritage, Lima-born Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura last month gave diners at Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila, a one of a kind Nikkei culinary experience. "Since it's the first time in Manila and many people don't really know ... ( read original story ...)
Credit Suisse Goes Bullish On Nikkei
Readers of this blog have complained that the Nikkei 225 is not rallying as fast as the yen is weakening. Credit Suisse appears to share that sentiment. Credit Suisse raised its weighting in Japanese stocks to Overweight, now seeing Nikkei to hit 20,000 by ... ( read original story ...)
Market Scramble: US jitters over dollar could dampen Japan rally
TOKYO -- Though Japan stock investors are feeling bullish thanks to the dollar's recent gains against the yen, some are keeping a wary eye on the U.S. amid concern that the greenback's impact on profits there could cool sentiment more broadly. The Nikkei ... ( read original story ...)
Latest Fukushima quake puts Japan's preparations to the test
TOKYO -- Thanks to robust disaster preparation, northeast Japan escaped a strong earthquake early Tuesday with minimum damage and injuries, but snags during tsunami evacuations and less-than-timely information from authorities leave room for improvement. ( read original story ...)