Japan farms to put up 'help wanted' sign

TOKYO -- Japan is set to allow some foreigners to work on farms in certain special strategic zones. The move would pave the way for agricultural production corporations to directly hire foreigners. The government is set to submit a revised national ... ( read original story ...)

ICICI Bank raises $88 million via Japanese `Pro-bonds'

MUMBAI: ICICI Bank, India's largest private lender, has raised 10 billion Japanese yen ($88 million) by selling a new series of bonds known as pro-bonds, the first issue of its kind by an Indian company. The bank's committee of executive directors, at its ... ( read original story ...)

Japan ratifies TPP despite Trump's threat

TOKYO -- Japan showcased its commitment to free trade by ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership Friday even as Asia's focus shifts to a China-led alternative framework amid U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to abandon the 12-nation pact. ( read original story ...)

Tokyo rallies after ECB but Asia traders cautious

The euro retreated on the prospect of more cash being pumped into financial markets for some time to come ... Asian stock markets took a breather. Tokyo ended the morning 1.1 percent higher as the dollar pushed up against the yen. - Casinos roiled ... ( read original story ...)

ICICI Bank to raise funds via Japanese bonds, first of its kind

MUMBAI: India’s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank is planning to raise Japanese Yen 10 billion by selling a new series of bonds known as Pro-Bonds, first of its kind in India. The committee of executive directors of the bank at its meeting held on ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo extends gains on ECB but Asia traders cautious

The euro retreated on the prospect of more cash being pumped into financial markets for some time to come ... Asian stock markets took a breather. Tokyo ended 1.2 percent higher as the dollar pushed up against the yen. Sydney added 0.3 percent and Shanghai ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's big manufacturers' mood improves as companies cut capex

TOKYO (Reuters) - Large Japanese manufacturers turned more ... The joint survey by the Ministry of Finance and the Economic and Social Research Institute, an arm of the Cabinet Office, recorded a business survey index (BSI) of sentiment among large ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's frugal millennials a bad omen for its economy

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's millennials have grown up in an economy that never seems to grow. Accustomed to stagnant wages, jobs without benefits and a debt-burdened government, they came of age during the global financial crisis and the 2011 tsunami and ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei hits 1-year high on Wall Street's record run, weaker yen

TOKYO Dec 9 Japan's Nikkei hit a one-year high on Friday, boosted after Wall Street posted a record close overnight and as the yen weakened against the dollar. The Nikkei gained 1.0 percent to 18,950.66 in midmorning trade, after rising to as high as ... ( read original story ...)

Japan to address complex beer taxes

TOKYO -- The Japanese government plans to unify tax rates for different beer categories over the next decade, responding to complaints of a byzantine system that has created needless price competition among domestic brewers. Suntory Holdings President ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei closes over 11-month high on upbeat China data

TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average closed at the highest level since last December on Thursday as upbeat Chinese trade data boosted sentiment, while Tepco shares soared on news Japan will increase an interest-free loan related to its Fukushima costs. ( read original story ...)

Huawei courses through Japan's power conditioner market

TOKYO -- Sales of Huawei Technologies' power conditioners for photovoltaic power plants are surging in Japan, with the company plugging the low initial investment and maintenance costs of its distributed power generation system. Shipments in 2016 are ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei rewrites 2016 closing high for second day

adding that the yen’s weakening against other currencies has made them less worried about foreign exchange risks in increasing their holdings of Japanese stocks. An official of another securities firm said that the Nikkei average should go higher unless ... ( read original story ...)