Japan, South Korea Stocks Fall, While China Rebounds

Because of Samsung’s fourth-quarter pullback, the index had fallen five of the past seven weeks. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average declined 0.2% after setting its latest 26-year closing high Monday. But department stores rose solidly Tuesday after ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei lifted by retail names, China stocks struggle

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average NIK, -0.20% was down 0.2% in early afternoon trading, after setting its latest 26-year closing high Monday. But department stores rose solidly Tuesday after Takashimaya posted solid fiscal third-quarter earnings ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s November consumer prices rise for 11th straight month

Japan’s core consumer prices rose for the eleventh straight month and household spending jumped in November, offering the central bank some hope a steady economic recovery will gradually drive up inflation to its 2 per cent target. But the increase in ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s household spending jumps but BOJ seen keeping stimulus

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's households spent more than expected in November while consumer inflation ticked up and the jobless rate hit a fresh 24-year low, offering the central bank some hope an economic recovery will drive up inflation to its 2 percent target. ( read original story ...)

Nikkei dips in thin holiday trade, Takashimaya lifts retailers

TOKYO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average inched down on Tuesday, caught in a narrow range as the index lacked leads from other markets, while retailers were lifted after Takashimaya rose strongly on upbeat earnings. The Nikkei was 0.08 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan jobless rate lowest since 1993

Japan's unemployment rate in November dipped to its lowest level since November 1993, official data showed Tuesday, offering another sign that the world's third-largest economy is on track to recovery even if the place is slow. Figures released by the ... ( read original story ...)

Japan pushes for March signing of TPP 11

TOKYO -- The Japanese government is working to have a retooled version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the multilateral trade and investment agreement abandoned by the U.S, signed by early March. But labor rights and other issues remain sticking points ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei edges up, helped by hopes for c.bank purchases of ETFs

TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average erased early losses and scraped out gains on Monday as expectations that the Bank of Japan would buy more exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offset drops by financial stocks. The central bank periodically buys ETFs as part of ... ( read original story ...)

BoJ says low rates hurting Japanese banks

TOKYO: Prolonged ultra-easy monetary policy is weighing heavily on Japanese bank profits but financial institutions should not expect business conditions to brighten dramatically even after the central bank raises interest rates, a senior Bank of Japan ... ( read original story ...)

Can Japan produce a tech unicorn in 2018?

But not in Japan. While the U.S has 112 of the 222 such businesses in the world today, Japan has just one, according to CB Insights, a research group. That is far fewer than China with 59 or even India with three. Why this yawning gap between Japan and ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo Cuts Costs for 2020 Summer Olympics

“We want to deliver fantastic games but at the same time we don’t want to use any public funds if we can help it,” said Hidemasa Nakamura, the chief financial officer of Tokyo 2020. “We will continue to try to reduce (costs) further.” The Tokyo ... ( read original story ...)