Japan News and Economic Updates
Bank of Japan minutes show support for further rate hikes
Japan's central bank is reinforcing its tightening bias after lifting borrowing costs to their highest level in more than three decades at its September meeting. The latest policy minutes show ...
Japan services activity extends expansion in October as PMI rises
Japan's services sector continues to grow in October, with business activity and new orders both increasing at a slightly faster pace. The latest survey also shows easing cost pressures and softer ...
Japan credit card ABS gains support from cashless payment growth
Japan's shift away from cash payments is accelerating, with credit cards remaining central to the country's expanding cashless transactions market. That growth is also reinforcing the role of ...
Japan trading houses post record profits as oil and copper prices surge
Japan’s largest commodity traders are reporting record profits as turmoil in energy markets and higher copper prices lift earnings. Executives at Mitsui and Mitsubishi are also warning that ...
Toyota seen posting first operating profit increase in six quarters
Toyota is expected to return to operating profit growth in the July-September quarter after six consecutive quarters without an increase. A weaker yen, stronger hybrid demand and the absence of ...
Mizuho Markets Cayman notes receive Fitch F1 rating under Mizuho Bank guarantee
Mizuho Markets Cayman LP receives an 'F1' short-term rating from Fitch Ratings for its USD400 million callable senior guaranteed notes due on 1 December 2027. The rating reflects an unconditional ...
Japan Investment Corp plans JSR sale to Mitsui Chemicals in potential 1.3 trillion yen deal
Japan's semiconductor materials sector is poised for a potentially transformative domestic deal as state-backed investor Japan Investment Corp plans to sell JSR to Mitsui Chemicals. The ...
Japan interest rate rises sharpen pressure on younger borrowers
Japan is moving further away from its long era of deflation as rising interest rates begin to redistribute gains and costs across households and businesses. Higher returns on deposits are ...
Japan weighs higher defense spending plan for fiscal 2027-2031
Japan is considering a new five-year defense buildup plan that could lift spending to 70 trillion yen to 80 trillion yen from April 2027 as security concerns in East Asia intensify. The proposal ...
Japan factory activity growth slows in October as cost pressures rise
Japan's manufacturing sector continues to expand in October, but the pace slows to its weakest level in seven months as output and new orders lose momentum. Rising input costs add pressure for ...
Next Technology authorizes bitcoin sales or loans amid custody and security risks
Next Technology Holding is weighing potential monetization of a bitcoin position that far exceeds its own stock market valuation. The Nasdaq-listed Japan-based software company says the move ...
Ryohin Keikaku bets on product localisation to drive Muji growth in U.S. and Europe
After building momentum in China with locally tailored, affordable products, Muji is now applying the same strategy to its expansion in the U.S. and Europe. The push comes as investors back parent ...
Fujifilm to raise LTO tape output fivefold as AI data archiving demand grows
Rising data volumes from generative AI are pushing up demand for long-term enterprise storage, giving magnetic tape a larger role in modern backup infrastructure. Fujifilm says it is committing ...
Japan local governments seen easing debt pressures as rates rise
Japan's local government sector is adjusting to higher long-term borrowing costs as the country moves further away from its ultra-low interest rate era. Higher local tax revenue and continued ...
Tokyo Electron forecasts profit surge as AI chip equipment demand stays strong
Rising spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to support semiconductor equipment makers even as investors question whether those outlays will produce sufficient returns. ...
Toyota and Waymo to test autonomous EVs in Japan, target UK rollout from 2027
Toyota Motor and Alphabet's Waymo are expanding their autonomous vehicle partnership with plans to begin testing electric bZ4X models in Japan in 2027. The program is designed as a step toward ...
Blackstone plans central Tokyo office sale as asset deal talks advance
Blackstone is pursuing a sale of the office portion of Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho in central Tokyo for about ¥300 billion, highlighting continued investor focus on large-scale Japanese real ...
Japan insurers expand lending as higher rates lift loan returns
Japan's largest life insurers are increasing lending plans as higher interest rates improve the appeal of loans and demand for capital grows in data centers, artificial intelligence and power ...
Japan stocks slide as AI spending worries hit chip shares
Japanese equities are under pressure on Friday as concerns about the sustainability of heavy spending on artificial intelligence weigh on technology names. The Nikkei falls as much as 3%, tracking ...
Japan convenience stores face consumer pullback as inflation reshapes spending
Japanese households are changing where and how they buy food as rising living costs push more shoppers toward discount retailers and bulk purchases. The shift is adding pressure on convenience ...
Japan Exchange Group begins Topix overhaul as index review may cut more than one-third of constituents
A sweeping revision of Japan’s benchmark equity index takes effect on Friday, marking the first major reshuffle of the Topix under Japan Exchange Group’s new framework. The changes could ...
