Japan’s ageing emperor can now abdicate

Japan's parliament has passed a law allowing Emperor Akihito to abdicate, clearing the way for the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in nearly two centuries and the accession of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, probably late next year. Akihito, 83, who ... ( read original story ...)

Japan clears way for first emperor abdication in over 200 years

Japan’s parliament passed a law Friday that clears the way ... Female imperial family members lose their royal status upon marriage to a commoner, a point highlighted by recent news that one of Akihito’s granddaughters, Princess Mako, plans to marry ... ( read original story ...)

Japan to require regional banks to contain bond-holding risk

With their margins squeezed by the Bank of Japan's negative interest rate policy, regional banks have stepped up investment on assets vulnerable to interest-rate risk, such as foreign bonds. Under the rule, from the fiscal year ending in March 2019 ... ( read original story ...)

The Saudi Aramco IPO is a game-changer for the Saudi economy

surpassing Alibaba’s $25 billion IPO in 2014. Several exchanges are competing for the honor, including those in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and New York. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) generally requires at least 25 percent of a firm’s shares to be ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo envisions bright future as world financial hub

TOKYO -- Tokyo's road map for becoming a global financial hub would slash taxes and dismantle regulatory hurdles, aiming to draw in 40 foreign companies by fiscal 2020 and support the national economy for years to come. Gov. Yuriko Koike will present ... ( read original story ...)

Japanese fugitive accused of killing Tokyo cop in 1971 arrested

June 7 (UPI) --Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department said Masaaki Osaka, a left-wing revolutionary accused of killing a police officer with a Molotov cocktail in 1971, has been arrested and charged with murder. Japan has no statute of limitations for ... ( read original story ...)

Japan growth rate revised down but business spending improves

Japan's economy grew slower than initially estimated in the first three months of the year, according to revised figures. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.3% in the first quarter, compared to 0.5% in last month's preliminary reading. The annualised ... ( read original story ...)

PM assures support for Japanese enterprises

As Japan’s major economic and industrial region, Kansai is home to 10 prefectures including three big cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe with strength in manufacturing industry. The Kansai economic region is worth nearly 931 billion USD, focusing on garment ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Q1 GDP revised down in fragile export-led expansion

TOKYO Japan's economic growth in the January-March period was severely revised down from the original estimate because of a downward adjustment in business inventories, the Cabinet Office said, underscoring the fragility of its export-led expansion. ( read original story ...)

Nikkei edges up, but caution prevails ahead of global events

TOKYO, June 8 Japan's Nikkei share average hovered in positive terrain on Thursday, with the yen moving away from recent highs and Wall Street edging up, but market participants were on guard ahead of key events. The Nikkei was up 0.1 percent at 19,993.97 ... ( read original story ...)

Markets & Finance News

TOKYO Asian shares wobbled on Thursday as investors braced for any surprises from the UK elections, the European Central Bank's policy meeting and congressional testimony from ex-FBI director James Comey who was fired by President Donald Trump last month. ( read original story ...)