Nikkei edges to two-year high as dollar strengthens

Japan's benchmark Nikkei was last up 0.3 percent at 20,213.62 in subdued trading. A rise above 20,318.11, a peak scaled a week ago, would take the Nikkei to its highest since August 2015. “The fundamental mood is not bad, but it's hard for investors to ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei 225: Follow The Trail

Despite all that lagging, however, the future trend for the Nikkei 225 might be the most promising. The reason? The BoJ’s monetary policy, and how it is trailing the performance of the Japanese economy. In a recent speech at the University of Oxford ... ( read original story ...)

Japan lures record foreign investment in 2016

TOKYO -- Foreign direct investment to Japan for fiscal 2016 topped 3 trillion yen ($26.9 billion) for the first time ever, thanks mainly to an increasing number of takeovers of domestic businesses by overseas investment funds. Japanese operations of ... ( read original story ...)

Japan diaper output falls 1st time in 15 years

TOKYO -- Japanese production of disposable diapers declined for the first time in 15 years in 2016, mainly due to weaker purchases from visiting Chinese tourists. Strong demand from overseas visitors had given the Japanese diaper market a boost in recent ... ( read original story ...)

Japan regional banks face further delays in merger plans

It intended to merge it with Shinwa Bank, which it already controlled. But Japan's Fair Trade Commission objected because the merged entity would control an unprecedented level of about 70 percent of loans in Nagasaki prefecture. The FTC argued the merger ... ( read original story ...)

Air bag recalls, lawsuits lead Takata to file for bankruptcy

Shattered by recall costs and lawsuits, Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp. filed Monday for bankruptcy protection in Tokyo and the U.S., saying it was the only way it could keep on supplying replacements for faulty air bag inflators linked to the deaths ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan Holds Fire as It Faces Calls for Exit Strategy

TOKYO—Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda rejected Friday the idea that he should follow the Federal Reserve’s lead and detail how the central bank might trim its assets, instead emphasizing the BOJ’s continuing commitment to buy government debt. ( read original story ...)

BoJ holds, but more upbeat on outlook

The Bank of Japan keeps monetary policy steady and upgrades its assessment of consumption and overseas growth, signalling confidence that an export-driven recovery is gaining momentum. David Pollard reports. The long march back to recovery .... For Japan ... ( read original story ...)

Stocks Make Cautious Gain as BOJ Stands Pat

Advertisment Most Asian bourses closed cautiously higher on Friday after the Bank of Japan kept its policy unchanged and following the declines in tech stocks stateside. The Nikkei 225 recovered 111.44 points, or 0.6%, to 19,943.26 The Hang Seng Index ... ( read original story ...)

Toshiba Chooses U.S.-Japan Bidder for Memory Chip Biz Sale

Tokyo-based Toshiba said the board of directors selected the bid, totaling about 2 trillion yen ($18 billion), from the consortium of Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, Bain Capital Private Equity and the Development Bank of Japan in the sale of Toshiba ... ( read original story ...)