Former Vice Finance Minister Kazuho Tanaka has been tapped as the next governor and chief executive of Japan Finance Corp. to succeed Koichi Hosokawa, 70, one of Tanaka’s predecessors at the ministry. The transfer of the top post of a government ... ( read original story ...)
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 ...)
Tokyo 2020 Olympics could deploy facial recognition tech on a huge scale
Now the organizing committee of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics is taking notice of the technology, and wants to use it on a huge scale at the global sporting extravaganza, sources told the Japan Times recently. Developed by NEC Corp., the ... ( 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 ...)
Ultra-easy monetary policy weighs heavily on Japanese bank profits
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 (BoJ ... ( 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 ...)
Nikkei takes a breather the day after Christmas; Kospi edges up
Asian markets were mixed early in the Tuesday session in what's likely to be light, holiday-week trading. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index came under slight pressure after closing at a 26-year high in the last session, despite thin holiday trade. ( 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 ...)
Nikkei edges up, helped by hopes for central bank purchases of ETFs
TOKYO (Reuters) - 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 ... ( 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 ...)