Japan exports hold up on yen's slide

The finance ministry said Japan had a surplus of 152.5 billion yen ($1.29 billion) in November, reversing a year-earlier deficit but smaller than the 227.4 billion yen forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. "Net exports were the main driver of GDP growth ... ( read original story ...)

Japan, Russia agree on economic ties; stalemate on territory

TOKYO (AP) -- Russia and Japan agreed Friday to hold talks on joint economic development of four islands at the center of a decades-old territorial dispute between the countries. It was a small step forward that fell far short of breaking the stalemate in ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei reaches 1-year high as Asian markets get back on track

Japan’s Nikkei stock average reached its highest intraday level since last December on Friday. Asian shares steadied on Friday, tracking U.S. gains, with financials leading Japan’s stock market to a fresh high for the year. Japan’s Nikkei Stock ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi to open branch in Saudi Arabia

DUBAI Dec 13 Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ has received a licence to open a branch in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first Japanese bank to establish a presence in the kingdom. The bank, part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, has played a central role in the ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan may rethink its 10-year bond yield target

If the BOJ lifts the yield target, it will be seen as tightening, said Izuru Kato, chief economist at Totan Research. "It would be hard to explain why you're doing this before inflation hits 2 per cent." Eugene Hoshiko Interest rate hikes are back on the ... ( read original story ...)

The Bank of Japan will have to fire up its printing press again

Donald Trump's election night victory has sent shockwaves through bond markets around the world. Selling in the US, brought on by the presumption that Trump's protectionist trade policies and plans for massive infrastructure spending will bring back ... ( read original story ...)

BANK OF JAPAN : UK interest rates are going nowhere in 2017

Interest rates are going up in the US, but in the UK they are going nowhere. That, bluntly, was the message from the Bank of England as it announced its latest decision on borrowing costs less than 24 hours after the US Federal Reserve not only tightened ... ( read original story ...)

Japan, Russia set to agree on $2.5bn deal

Discussions of project details are now in the final stages. Among the projects is the joint provision of around 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion) in loans by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and a financial institution in Europe for ... ( read original story ...)

Japan tops China as largest holder of US Treasury debt

WASHINGTON — Japan surpassed China in October as the largest foreign owner of U.S. Treasury securities, the first time the countries have swapped places in nearly two years. Total foreign holdings fell for a fourth month. The Treasury Department says ... ( read original story ...)

Japan casino law excites Asian gaming operators

"[Japan] will be a very interesting market," Chairman Enrique ... a debate also likely to be revived in South Korea. Additional reporting by Nikkei staff writers Mayuko Tani in Singapore, Cliff Venzon in Manila and Kim Jaewon in Seoul. ( read original story ...)