Premarket: Euro zone lifted as ECB joins central bank trend

Banking stocks across the bloc also gained around 0.5 per cent ... MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.3 per cent and were on track to end the week with a 3.5 per cent gain, its biggest increase since July. ( read original story ...)

Japanese Yen Steady As BoJ Leaves Policy Alone

The Bank of Japan left all its monetary settings alone Two committee members dissented against yield-curve control The Yen slipped a little after the decision, but USD/JPY remains lower after that Federal Reserve decision The Bank of Japan left all its key ... ( read original story ...)

The Bank of Japan leaves policy unchanged

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – JUNE 11: Shinji Okazaki #9 of Japan celebrates scoring a goal with team mate Takashi Usami #11 during the international friendly match between Japan and Iraq at Nissan Stadium on June 11, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Chris McGrath ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's energy future hinges on diplomatic prowess

TOKYO -- After Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko met with Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates' state minister and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil, in January in the emirate, he breathed a big sigh of relief. The UAE ... ( read original story ...)

Global shares mixed ahead of G-20 finance meeting in Germany

TOKYO (AP) - Global markets were mixed Friday as investors awaited a meeting of finance and economic ministers of the Group of 20 industrial countries. KEEPING SCORE: France's CAC 40 lost 0.1 percent in early trading to 5,007.66, while Germany's DAX fell 0 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's Nikkei edges down, set for weekly drop

TOKYO, March 17 Japan's Nikkei share average edged down on Friday morning, as the yen held steady against the dollar after the U.S. Federal Reserve signalled fewer interest rate hikes than some investors had expected. The Nikkei shed 0.3 percent to 19,523 ... ( read original story ...)

LG aims to double sales in Japan with new flat-screens

president of LG Electronics Japan, told The Nikkei. The organic light-emitting diode flat-screens hitting the streets in April come in three series and four models. The 65-inch model of the OLED W7P series is 3.9mm thick from the back to the screen ... ( read original story ...)

Asian shares mixed ahead of G-20 finance meeting in Germany

TOKYO — Asian markets were mixed Friday as investors awaited a meeting of finance and economic ministers of the Group of 20 industrial countries. KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 edged down 0.4 per cent to 19,521.47. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan February exports seen rising at fastest pace since 2015

The finance ministry will release the trade data at 8:50 a.m. JST on Wednesday (2350 GMT Tuesday.) Japan's trade surplus with the United States has been declining. But if it starts rising again, it could become a flashpoint after President Donald Trump ... ( read original story ...)

Japan factors foreigner safety into its disaster prep

TOKYO Japan is beefing up its anti-terrorism measures with a special focus on protecting foreign residents and visitors during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The Cabinet Secretariat recently held a counterterrorism drill ... ( read original story ...)

Japan braces for tough trade talks with old US hand

WASHINGTON -- The man expected to become America's next chief trade negotiator indicated Tuesday that the new U.S. administration will put heavy pressure on Japan to make concessions in agriculture imports on the way toward a bilateral free trade agreement. ( read original story ...)

Japan gathering forces to mine 'burning ice' energy

TOKYO -- About 50 Japanese companies are joining forces to support the commercialization of methane hydrate, a fuel anticipated in Japan as a next-generation energy source. Methane hydrate, also known as "burning ice" for its icelike form, releases methane ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's central bank holds steady on interest rate, stimulus

TOKYO — Japan's central bank opted Thursday to keep its monetary policy steady, as the U.S. Federal Reserve tightens and European Central Bank edges in that direction. The Bank of Japan ended a policy meeting by keeping the minus 0.1 per cent benchmark ... ( read original story ...)

From Osaka to Frankfurt, listless wages remain G-7 mystery

From York, U.K. to Montreal, and Osaka to Seattle, it’s a pretty good time to be ... the last year of expansion before the financial crisis. “I hate to say it but we may be in a new normal for wage growth,” said Omair Sharif, senior U.S. economist ... ( read original story ...)