China ramps up charm offensive with Japan

Taro Aso, Japan’s finance minister, will travel to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Liu Kun, as diplomatic contacts between the two largest powers in East Asia pick up pace. “We’re goin... ( read original story ...)

Promoting regional bank mergers

Steep population declines in many parts of the country have eroded their customer base by reducing the loan demand by local companies in the markets they serve, while the ultralow interest rates under ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo shares end flat ahead of US data

Tokyo stocks ended flat Thursday, trimming earlier gains as investors locked in profits ahead of new data on the US economy. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.09 percent, or 21.28 points, at 22, ... ( read original story ...)