Japan’s economy shrank more than expected in the first quarter
7 months, 1 week ago

Japan’s economy shrank more than expected in the first quarter

Associated Press  

TOKYO — The Japanese economy shrank at an annual rate of 2% in the first quarter of this year, as consumption and exports declined, the government said Thursday. Although unemployment has stayed relatively low in the world’s fourth largest economy at about 2.6%, wage growth has been slow and prices have risen partly due to weakness of the yen against the U.S. dollar. Earlier this year, the Japanese government ordered Daihatsu Motor Co. to halt production of its entire lineup because of faked safety test results. The Bank of Japan raised interest rates earlier this year for the first time since 2007, but only to a range of zero to 0.1% from minus 0.1%.

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History of this topic

Why Japan is struggling to recover its economic mojo
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Why Japan is struggling to recover its economic mojo

Firstpost  

Japan’s GDP, which accounted for over 70 per cent of the US GDP in 1995, declined to just 15 per cent by 2023 Japan, with a landmass just 11 per cent the size of India’s, has historically wielded an outsized influence in shaping the destiny of Asia and the wider world. Rising literally from the ashes, Japan achieved the “Japanese …

Japan's factory activity falls at fastest pace in 8 months, PMI shows
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Japan's factory activity falls at fastest pace in 8 months, PMI shows

Hindustan Times  

TOKYO, - Japan's factory activity shrank at the fastest pace in eight months in November as soft demand prompted firms to trim production, a private-sector survey showed on Monday. Japan's factory activity falls at fastest pace in 8 months, PMI shows The final au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index slipped to 49.0 in November, the lowest level since …

Japan’s Nikkei slips on firmer yen amid BOJ rate hike bets; logs worst month since April
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Japan’s Nikkei slips on firmer yen amid BOJ rate hike bets; logs worst month since April

Live Mint  

By Brigid Riley TOKYO, - Japan's Nikkei share average fell on Friday as the yen strengthened on growing expectations of an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan after hotter-than-expected inflation data. Meanwhile, banks and insurance stocks were boosted by prospects of the rate hike, sending Dai-ichi Life Holdings soaring 3.5% and Chiba Bank rallying 4.2% to land among …

Japan's factory activity extends declines on sluggish demand, PMI shows
1 month ago

Japan's factory activity extends declines on sluggish demand, PMI shows

Hindustan Times  

TOKYO, - Japan's factory activity contracted for the fifth straight month in November due to sluggish demand caused by worries over China's economic slowdown and persistent cost pressures, a private-sector survey showed on Friday. Japan's factory activity extends declines on sluggish demand, PMI shows The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index slipped slightly to 49.0 in November …

Japan’s economy continues to grow but at slower pace
1 month, 1 week ago

Japan’s economy continues to grow but at slower pace

Live Mint  

The Japanese economy managed to continue growing for a second straight quarter thanks to a recovery in consumption, although the pace slowed amid the impact of natural disasters during the summer. Japan’s gross domestic product expanded 0.2% in the three months to September from the previous quarter, preliminary government data showed Friday. Although the pace of expansion in the latest …

Japan Intervened Twice Last Quarter to Bring Yen Below 160
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Japan Intervened Twice Last Quarter to Bring Yen Below 160

Live Mint  

Japan said it stepped into the foreign exchange market twice last quarter, as speculation grows that more moves may be brewing given the recent bout of renewed yen weakness. Before the government took action in July the yen was trading past 160 per dollar, a 38-year low, partly driven by speculators betting on the wide borrowing cost gap between Japan …

Yen Dip Fuels Asian Market as Japan's Ruling Party Loses Majority
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Yen Dip Fuels Asian Market as Japan's Ruling Party Loses Majority

Associated Press  

Japan's ruling party loses majority in Parliament's lower house, leading to a rise in Asian shares. The yen dips in the midst of political uncertainty, benefiting Japanese exporters like Toyota and Nintendo. The Nikkei 225 and S&P 500 indices rise, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq composite decline. Company earnings reports are mostly positive, with most companies beating …

Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed and the yen slips against the dollar
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed and the yen slips against the dollar

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The meeting between Ishiba and …

Japan's central bank survey underpins optimism about growth
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan's central bank survey underpins optimism about growth

Hindustan Times  

TOKYO — Business sentiment among Japan’s large manufacturers stood unchanged in the latest quarter from the previous quarter, according to a closely watched survey called “tankan” released Tuesday. Japan's central bank survey underpins optimism about growth The Bank of Japan survey put the benchmark index at plus-13 for the July-September quarter, the same from the previous survey conducted for April-June. …

Japan's central bank survey underpins optimism about growth
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan's central bank survey underpins optimism about growth

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

ASX hits new record, CBA shares close at record high, Bank of Japan keeps rates on hold — as it happened
3 months ago

ASX hits new record, CBA shares close at record high, Bank of Japan keeps rates on hold — as it happened

ABC  

The Bank of Japan has issued this statement: At the Monetary Policy Meeting held today, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan decided, by unanimous vote, to set the following guideline for money market operations for the intermeeting period: The Bank will encourage the uncollaterised overnight call to remain at around 0.25 per cent. On the price front, the …

Japan’s economy is growing, but political uncertainty is among the risks
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan’s economy is growing, but political uncertainty is among the risks

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s economy grew at an annual rate of 2.9%, slower than the earlier report for 3.1% growth, in the April-June period, boosted by better wages and spending, revised government data showed Monday. That shows clear risks remain, including U.S. economic growth, which greatly affects export-reliant Japan. The world’s fourth-largest economy grew 0.7% in the fiscal first quarter, according …

Japan records trade deficit as surging global prices pushes imports higher
4 months ago

Japan records trade deficit as surging global prices pushes imports higher

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan racked up a 621 billion yen trade deficit in July, as prices of imports surged, according to government data released Wednesday. Japan’s imports grew nearly 17% from a year ago to 10.2 trillion yen, while exports grew 10% to 9.6 trillion yen, the Finance Ministry said. Exports grew to the U.S., China and Brazil, but auto exports …

Yen Rallies Against Dollar, Outstripping Most of Its G-10 Peers
4 months ago

Yen Rallies Against Dollar, Outstripping Most of Its G-10 Peers

Live Mint  

The yen outperformed most of its peers in the Group of 10 Monday, rallying against the dollar in jittery trading ahead of key central bank events later in the week. The rally came amid broad weakness in the dollar, with investors on edge before Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda appears in parliament on Friday, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome …

Japan's Nikkei makes a comeback as recession fears ease on US retail sales data
4 months, 1 week ago

Japan's Nikkei makes a comeback as recession fears ease on US retail sales data

Hindustan Times  

Japan's Nikkei share average climbed nearly 3% on Friday and notched its best week in more than four years, as strong U.S. retail sales data soothed fears of a recession in the world's largest economy and Japan's top trading partner. Wall Street's main indexes closed higher on Thursday after U.S. retail sales increased 1% in July following a downwardly revised …

The financial markets will disappoint your yen for stability
4 months, 2 weeks ago

The financial markets will disappoint your yen for stability

Live Mint  

As we go to press Thursday financial investors are already choosing to forget the tremors that hit global markets Monday. Then there’s the infamous yen carry trade: the process by which an investor borrows yen at Japan’s ultralow interest rates to invest in a foreign market at a higher interest rate. Globally, net credit in yen extended by a bank …

Japan's share benchmark resumes swings after calm day on Wall Street
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan's share benchmark resumes swings after calm day on Wall Street

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The interest rate hike, however …

Japan Stock market crash: Nikkei 225 index plunges 12.4% as world markets tremble over risks to the US economy
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan Stock market crash: Nikkei 225 index plunges 12.4% as world markets tremble over risks to the US economy

The Hindu  

Japan’s benchmark stock index plunged 12.4% on August 5, compounding a global market rout set off by investor concerns that the the U.S. economy could be headed for recession. But after Friday’s jobs report, worries are rising the Fed may have kept its main interest rate at a two-decade high for too long, raising risks of a recession in the …

Japan hikes interest rates for only second time in 17 years to shore up yen and tame inflation
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan hikes interest rates for only second time in 17 years to shore up yen and tame inflation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Japan’s central bank has hiked …

Japan's trade deficit for first half declines as exports recover
5 months ago

Japan's trade deficit for first half declines as exports recover

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Japan posted a trade surplus …

Japan revises economic growth in 1Q downward, as latest data show sluggish demand and rising prices
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan revises economic growth in 1Q downward, as latest data show sluggish demand and rising prices

Associated Press  

BANGKOK — Japan revised its earlier estimates to show that its economy contracted at a 2.9% annual pace in the first quarter of the year, as meanwhile a survey by the central bank released Monday showed conditions remain sluggish. “Across all industries and firm sizes, business conditions held steady at 12, which is on past form consistent with GDP growth …

Japan signals it may prop up yen after currency falls to 38-year low
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan signals it may prop up yen after currency falls to 38-year low

Al Jazeera  

Japan has signalled it may intervene to prop up the yen after the currency fell to a 38-year low against the US dollar. “We are watching moves with a high sense of urgency, analysing the factors behind the moves, and will take necessary actions.” The Japanese finance chief made his comments after the yen weakened to 160.88 against the dollar …

Japan’s exports surge 13.5% in May, helped by cheap yen and strong demand in US, Asian markets
6 months ago

Japan’s exports surge 13.5% in May, helped by cheap yen and strong demand in US, Asian markets

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s exports surged 13.5% in May, faster than expected growth helped by a weak yen and strong demand in the U.S. and Asia. Finance Ministry data reported Wednesday showed that the trade deficit totaled 1.22 trillion yen, down nearly 12% from 1.38 trillion yen a year earlier. In fact, “most of the increase in trade values over the …

Bank of Japan to cut buying govt bonds
6 months ago

Bank of Japan to cut buying govt bonds

China Daily  

Pedestrians walk past the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo, Japan March 18, 2024. The Bank of Japan's recent announcement that it will reduce the scale of its long-term government bond purchases while leaving short-term interest rates unchanged is seen as a move toward monetary policy normalization by experts, who said it could alleviate some of the pressure on the …

Bank of Japan to scale down huge bond-buying programme
6 months, 1 week ago

Bank of Japan to scale down huge bond-buying programme

New Indian Express  

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan on Friday said it would trim its vast hoard of government bonds as it cautiously steps away from its long-running ultra-loose monetary policy. The central bank kept interest rates unchanged after a two-day meeting but announced plans to "reduce its purchase amount of JGBs thereafter to ensure that long-term interest rates would be formed more …

Japan’s economy is shrinking, although slightly less than previously thought
6 months, 1 week ago

Japan’s economy is shrinking, although slightly less than previously thought

Associated Press  

TOKYO — The Japanese economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.8% in the first quarter of this year, slightly better than the initial estimate at a 2.0% contraction, according to revised government data Monday. Seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product, or GDP, a measure of the value of a nation’s products and services, remained in negative territory, as exports …

Japan's economy is shrinking, although slightly less than previously thought
6 months, 1 week ago

Japan's economy is shrinking, although slightly less than previously thought

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Japanese economy shrank at …

Japan's economy is shrinking, although slightly less than previously thought
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan's economy is shrinking, although slightly less than previously thought

New Indian Express  

TOKYO: The Japanese economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.8% in the first quarter of this year, slightly better than the initial estimate at a 2.0% contraction, according to revised government data Monday. Seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product, or GDP, a measure of the value of a nation’s products and services, remained in negative territory, as exports and …

Japanese automaker Honda reports booming profit on sales growth, weak yen
7 months, 1 week ago

Japanese automaker Honda reports booming profit on sales growth, weak yen

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Honda’s profit for the fiscal year through March jumped 70% as vehicle sales grew and a weak yen buoyed overseas earnings, the Japanese automaker reported Friday. Annual profit at Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co. totaled 1.1 trillion yen as sales surged nearly 21% to 20.4 billion yen. The maker of the Accord sedan and CR Electric Proto motorcycles was …

Japan is wrong to try to prop up the yen
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan is wrong to try to prop up the yen

Hindustan Times  

It is easy for investors to lose a fortune in the financial markets—and even easier for governments. In 2022 Japan spent more than $60bn of its foreign-exchange reserves defending the yen, its first intervention to strengthen the currency since 1998, after the exchange rate fell to nearly ¥146 to the dollar. Higher rates abroad make profitable a “carry trade”, whereby …

Why is Japan’s yen falling and why is it so weak against the US dollar?
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Why is Japan’s yen falling and why is it so weak against the US dollar?

Al Jazeera  

The weakness of the Japanese currency is back in the spotlight after sinking to its lowest level since April 1990. The yen recovered to 155.01 per dollar later in the day, prompting speculation that Japanese authorities had intervened to prop up the value of the currency. “Also, market expectations rapidly changed on the Fed’s monetary policy.” The gap in interest …

Japan’s yen surges after sinking to lowest level against dollar since 1990
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan’s yen surges after sinking to lowest level against dollar since 1990

Al Jazeera  

Japanese currency sinks to 160.17 per dollar before rising to 155.01 amid speculation of intervention by authorities. The yen on Monday sank to 160.17 per dollar, the lowest since April 1990, setting off murmurs that Japanese authorities could intervene to prop up the currency for the first time since late 2022. The yen has been on a near continual slide …

Japan’s exports rise nearly 8% in February on strong shipments of cars and machinery
9 months ago

Japan’s exports rise nearly 8% in February on strong shipments of cars and machinery

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s exports rose 7.8% in February from a year earlier on strong shipments of cars and electrical machinery, the government said Thursday. Exports in February totaled 8.2 trillion yen, marking the third straight month of growth, according to preliminary customs data. The picture for imports was mixed, with China supplying 1.7 trillion yen, a nearly 17% annual increase …

In Japan, interest rate increases herald a new era for financial markets
9 months, 1 week ago

In Japan, interest rate increases herald a new era for financial markets

The Hindu  

Barely weeks after Japanese stocks broke three-decade highs, the country’s financial markets are hurtling toward another phenomenon not seen for the best part of a generation: rising interest rates. “I personally think this is going to be the beginning of a new era,” said Keita Matsumoto, head of financial institutions sales and solutions at Citigroup Global Markets Japan. “Markets still …

Japan economy avoids recession, Q4 GDP revised up to slight expansion
9 months, 1 week ago

Japan economy avoids recession, Q4 GDP revised up to slight expansion

Hindustan Times  

Japan's economy avoided a technical recession, revised government GDP data showed on Monday, even though the upward change in the fourth quarter was weaker than expected and highlighted concerns about the sluggish economic recovery. Japan's revised gross domestic product expanded at an annualised clip of 0.4% in the October-December period from the previous quarter, better than the initial estimate for …

Japan’s Nikkei stock index passes 40,000 for first time amid AI fanfare
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan’s Nikkei stock index passes 40,000 for first time amid AI fanfare

Al Jazeera  

Nikkei 225 gains as much as 1 percent after last month beating 1989 record. Japan’s benchmark stock market index has smashed the 40,000 mark for the first time, continuing its comeback after decades of stagnation. Last month, the benchmark index surpassed its 1989 record of 38,915.8, set as Japan’s economy was on the precipice of an asset crash that kicked …

Lack of drivers drops Japan down to fourth
10 months ago

Lack of drivers drops Japan down to fourth

China Daily  

Pedestrians walk past an electronic board showing the closing numbers of the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on February 8, 2024. According to official Japanese data released on Thursday, Japan's nominal GDP in 2023 was 591.48 trillion yen, lower than Germany's $4.46 trillion. While being surpassed by Germany, Japan's nominal GDP grew by 5.7 percent in 2023, …

Japan slips to the world's fourth-largest economy, behind the US, China and now Germany
10 months, 1 week ago

Japan slips to the world's fourth-largest economy, behind the US, China and now Germany

The Hindu  

Japan has slipped to the world’s fourth-largest economy as government data released on January 15 showed it fell behind the size of Germany's in 2023. Japan’s nominal GDP totaled $4.2 trillion last year, or about 591 trillion yen. The latest data reflect the realities of a weakening Japan and will likely result in Japan’s commanding a lesser presence in the …

Japan slips into a recession and loses its spot as the world’s third-largest economy
10 months, 1 week ago

Japan slips into a recession and loses its spot as the world’s third-largest economy

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s economy is now the world’s fourth-largest after it contracted in the last quarter of 2023 and fell behind Germany. Japan’s nominal GDP totaled $4.2 trillion last year, while Germany’s was $4.4 trillion, or $4.5 trillion, depending on the currency conversion. But its economy, one of the world’s worst performing last year, also contracted in the last quarter, …

Japan slips into recession, allowing Germany to overtake as world’s third-largest economy
10 months, 1 week ago

Japan slips into recession, allowing Germany to overtake as world’s third-largest economy

CNN  

Hong Kong/Tokyo CNN — Japan’s economy has contracted unexpectedly because of weak domestic consumption, pushing the country into recession and causing it to lose its position as the world’s third largest economy to Germany. What’s more, the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey showed that business conditions across all industries and firm sizes were the strongest they’ve been since the fourth …

Japan’s Honda reports its profit rose on the back of strong U.S. demand
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan’s Honda reports its profit rose on the back of strong U.S. demand

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japanese automaker Honda’s profit rose 3.5% in the October-December quarter from a year earlier on the back of solid demand in the U.S. and Europe and a recovery in its home market, the company said Thursday. A favorable exchange rate helped amplify Honda’s overseas profits in yen terms and is expected to continue through the rest of the …

Japan's exports surge 10% in December on strong demand for autos, revived trade with China
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Japan's exports surge 10% in December on strong demand for autos, revived trade with China

The Hindu  

Japan's exports surged almost 10% in December from a year earlier, helped by a revival in trade with China and strong demand for vehicles, machinery and computer chips. A weak Japanese yen has helped export manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Sony, though it increases the costs of imports of key commodities like oil and gas needed to fuel the world's …

Stock market today: Asian shares slip ahead of key US economic reports
1 year ago

Stock market today: Asian shares slip ahead of key US economic reports

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Asian shares declined in cautious trading Tuesday ahead of some key reports this week on the U.S. job market that might provide insight into the Federal Reserve’s thinking about interest rates. A key report on Japanese inflation showed core consumer prices in Tokyo, which excludes volatile food prices, rose 2.3% from a year ago, slowing from previous months’ …

Japan’s economy sinks into contraction as spending, investment decline
1 year, 1 month ago

Japan’s economy sinks into contraction as spending, investment decline

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s economy contracted at a 2.1% annual pace in July-September as consumption and investment weakened, the government said Wednesday. With investment and demand weakening in other major economies, “we expect GDP growth to slow from 1.7% this year to 0.5% in 2024,” said Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics. The last quarter’s performance was far worse than what had …

Pressure mounts on Japan as Yen weakens amid US interest rate hike expectations
1 year, 2 months ago

Pressure mounts on Japan as Yen weakens amid US interest rate hike expectations

Live Mint  

Japanese authorities are facing renewed pressure to combat a sustained depreciation in the yen, as investors eye prospects of higher-for-longer US interest rates while the Bank of Japan remains wedded to its super low interest rate policy. With the dollar having breached the psychologically important 150-yen level, many market players see 151.94 yen, where Japan last intervened, as the next …

Japan records a trade deficit in August as exports to China, rest of Asia weaken
1 year, 3 months ago

Japan records a trade deficit in August as exports to China, rest of Asia weaken

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Japanese economic growth surges on strong exports and tourism
1 year, 4 months ago

Japanese economic growth surges on strong exports and tourism

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s economic growth jumped at an annual pace of 6% in the April-June period, marking the third straight quarter of growth as exports and inbound tourism recovered. Real gross domestic product, which measures the sum value of a nation’s products and services, grew 1.5% in the fiscal first quarter for the world’s third largest economy, the Cabinet Office …

Japan’s central bank retains key interest rate while fine-tuning bond purchases for more flexibility
1 year, 4 months ago

Japan’s central bank retains key interest rate while fine-tuning bond purchases for more flexibility

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s central bank opted Friday to keep its benchmark interest rate at minus 0.1% but fine-tuned its bond purchases to allow greater flexibility in its policies given the “high uncertainties” facing the world’s third-largest economy. The BOJ has resisted raising its longstanding minus 0.1% benchmark rate out of concern that growth in Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, may …

Japan’s economy rebounds on healthy consumption as COVID restrictions ease, tourists arrive
1 year, 7 months ago

Japan’s economy rebounds on healthy consumption as COVID restrictions ease, tourists arrive

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s economy grew at an annual pace of 1.6% in the quarter through March as private demand rebounded after COVID-19-related restrictions were eased, according to data released Wednesday. Real gross domestic product, which measures the sum value of a nation’s products and services, grew 0.4% in January-March on-quarter in the world’s third largest economy, the government Cabinet Office …

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