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 ...)

Japan poised to be Asia's 2nd-largest casino market

HONG KONG -- Japan has dropped its long-standing ban on casinos, paving the way for the country to become a major player in the multibillion-dollar gambling industry. The Diet, Japan's parliament, passed a bill on Wednesday to legalize casinos and promote ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei turns negative on profit-taking from 7-day rally

TOKYO Dec 15 Japan's Nikkei share average edged down in choppy trade just before the lunchbreak on Thursday as investors took profits from the seven-day rally after pricing in the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to raise rates for the first time in a year. ( read original story ...)

Nikkei rises as yen weakens after U.S. raises interest rates

TOKYO, Dec 15 Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Thursday morning as the dollar surged against the yen after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised rates for the first time in a year and signalled further hikes could come at a faster pace than the market had ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo's Nikkei down at break as early rally fizzles

The blue-chip index fell 0.6 percent after a seven-day streak of record closes. In Tokyo, financial stocks turned down with Mizuho Financial Group falling 0.27 percent to 219.5 yen and Nomura 0.65 percent off at 1,965 yen. But Hitachi rose 0.69 percent to ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks edge higher after Fed rate hike

... down with Mizuho Financial Group falling 0.27 percent to 219.5 yen and brokerage Nomura off 0.92 percent to end at 749.4 yen. But Hitachi rose 1.02 percent to 642.2 yen after the Nikkei business daily reported that Tokyo may arrange an aid package ... ( read original story ...)

Panasonic introduces robotic checkout at a grocery store in Osaka

The company is currently piloting the system at a Lawson outlet in Osaka, Japan, where Panasonic is headquartered. For now, shoppers using the robotic baskets must manually scan their purchases. But by February, Panasonic aims to fit each item in the store ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's Nikkei dips ahead of Fed policy decision

TOKYO, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei slipped on Wednesday as the market braced for the Federal Reserve's policy decision, due later in the session, that should signal the near-term direction for risk assets. The Nikkei was down 0.1 percent at 19,235.46 ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks down at break ahead of Fed meeting

Tokyo stocks eased Wednesday morning, despite a pick-up in Japanese business confidence as investors hold their cards ahead of a key US central bank meeting. Gambling-linked shares retreated after a recent rally as lawmakers from Japan's ruling party rush ... ( read original story ...)

Japan business confidence rebounds as yen slides

Confidence among some of Japan's biggest firms has rebounded for the first time in more than a year, a key central bank survey showed Wednesday, as a sliding yen boosted hopes for their profits. The Bank of Japan's Tankan report -- a quarterly survey of ... ( read original story ...)