Topic
japan-economy
22 stories related to this topic, newest first.
Financial Timesfinance1 hr ago
Bank of Japan governor hospitalized ahead of June policy meeting
The Bank of Japan said its governor has been hospitalized and will miss the June 15-16 policy meeting. The central bank expects the meeting to proceed with remaining board members and raise its short-term interest rate target to 1 percent.
upi.comworld3 hrs ago
Bank of Japan to Hold Next Policy Meeting Without Governor Ueda
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has been hospitalized for treatment of an infectious disease and will miss the central bank's policy meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Deputy governors will lead the session and post-meeting news conference.
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japantimes.co.jpworld7 days ago
Yen Returns to ¥160 per Dollar a Month After Intervention
The yen traded near ¥160 to the dollar on Wednesday, the level that previously prompted official action. The Finance Ministry reported spending ¥11.73 trillion to support the currency between April 28 and May 27.
japantimes.co.jpfinance9 days ago
Japan Q1 Capital Spending Flat at 0.0%, Below 4.0% Estimate
Capital spending in Japan showed no growth in the first quarter, missing forecasts and marking a sharp slowdown from the prior period. Company profits rose more than expected while sales posted a modest increase.
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japantimes.co.jppolitics12 days ago
Japan Officials Monitor Yen, Ready to Intervene
Japan's deputy chief cabinet secretary and chief cabinet secretary both expressed worry about sharp foreign-exchange fluctuations driven by speculation. Officials said the government will respond appropriately to any disorderly moves.
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Japan Timesworld15 days ago
Nippon Life Books ¥70 Billion Impairment Loss on Government Bonds
Nippon Life Insurance recorded a ¥70 billion impairment loss on Japanese government bonds for the year ended March 31. The charge is the company's first since the Bank of Japan began raising interest rates in March 2024.
marketwatch.comworld26 days ago
Bond Yields Rise Across Curve as Japan Reports Strongest PPI Growth in Three Years
Bond prices fell and yields rose across the maturity spectrum. Japan's producer price index recorded its fastest growth in three years, indicating continued inflation pressure. Market participants are focusing on interest rate developments as the primary driver of asset prices.
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japantimes.co.jpbusiness29 days ago
Calbee Switches to Black-and-White Packaging for Salty Snacks Due to Naphtha Shortage
Calbee said shortages of naphtha, a crude-oil derivative used in printing inks, are forcing the company to change from its signature colorful packaging to black-and-white versions for salty snack products. The shift is linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran that has disrup…
BBC Newsfinance29 days ago
Calbee Changes Some Snack Packaging to Black-and-White
Japanese snack maker Calbee will begin selling 14 products including crisps and prawn crackers in monochrome packets from 25 May due to ink shortages caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices surged to $102 per barrel after President Trump rejected Iran’s latest p…
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japantimes.co.jpfinance30 days ago
Three Major Japanese Shipping Companies Project Multi-Billion Yen Profits for Fiscal 2026
Nippon Yusen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha projected lower earnings for fiscal 2026, citing rising fuel prices tied to tensions in the Middle East and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Executives said the impact remains difficult to quantify even as t…
nippon.comfinance33 days ago
Japan Composite PMI Falls to 52.2 in April
The S&P Global composite purchasing managers' index for Japan edged down to 52.2 in final April data from 52.4 the prior month. The services PMI also declined slightly to 51.0 from 51.2. Both readings remained above the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction.
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Bloombergfinance33 days ago
Japanese Real Wages Rise for Third Straight Month in March
Japanese workers’ real wages rose in March for a third consecutive month, data showed on Friday. The increase bolsters the Bank of Japan’s case for further interest rate hikes even as the Middle East conflict clouds the economic outlook. The figures mark a continued turnaround fr…
onemileatatime.comfinance33 days ago
Japan March Cash Earnings Rise 2.7%, Missing Forecasts
Japan's nominal cash earnings grew 2.7% in March from a year earlier, below the 3.2% median forecast and down from 3.3% in February. Real cash earnings rose 1.0%, also missing expectations. Several related wage measures showed similar slowdowns.
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Japan Timesfinance33 days ago
Nikkei 225 Closes Week Near Record High
The Nikkei 225 ended Friday at 62,713.65 after hitting a record 63,091.14 the previous day. U.S. stocks retreated from record highs amid mixed signals on renewed U.S.-Iran peace talks and volatile oil prices. Toyota forecast an abrupt profit drop citing Iran-related factors, send…
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japantimes.co.jppolitics34 days ago
Japan Currency Official Says IMF Free-Floating Classification Allows FX Intervention
A senior Japanese currency diplomat said the International Monetary Fund's classification of the yen as free floating does not limit how often authorities can intervene in foreign exchange markets. The official declined to comment on current forex levels but stated that intervent…
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ultimateclassicrock.comfinance34 days ago
BoJ Minutes Show One Member Warned of Falling Behind on Inflation Risks
The Bank of Japan released minutes from a recent policy meeting in which one member highlighted the risk that the central bank could unintentionally fall behind the curve on inflation. The same member said particular attention should be paid to upside risks to prices. The comment…
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MarketWatchfinance39 days agoUpdated
High Oil Prices Drive Inflation Higher in Japan as BOJ Intervenes to Support Yen
Concerns over elevated oil prices are intensifying inflation worries in Japan. The Bank of Japan has recently intervened to bolster the yen, which had reached a roughly 40-year low. This move comes amid broader economic pressures in the region.
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japantimes.co.jpworld41 days ago
Japan Faces Naphtha Shortages from Strait of Hormuz Disruptions, Impacting Food Packaging Costs by 2026
Food and drink prices in Japan are poised to increase as early as summer 2026 due to disruptions in naphtha supply caused by a two-month-old war in the Middle East. Suppliers of plastic packaging are demanding higher prices, affecting small and mid-size food manufacturers. Recent…
Fnweirkmnwperojvnu / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)finance43 days ago
US 5-Year Note Auction Shows Lower Yield; Japan Jobless Rate Edges Up in March
The latest US 5-Year Treasury Note auction reported a high yield rate of 3.955%, down from the previous 3.980%. Japan's unemployment rate for March rose to 2.7%, exceeding estimates, while the job-to-applicant ratio fell slightly to 1.18. These indicators provide insights into cu…
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ibtimes.co.ukfinance47 days ago
Japan's March CPI Increases to 1.5% Year-Over-Year, Core at 1.8%
Japan's nationwide consumer price index rose to 1.5% year-over-year in March, exceeding the forecast of 1.4%. The core CPI increased to 1.8%, also surpassing expectations. These figures aligned with government survey expectations and showed a slight increase from prior levels.
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The Japan Timesfinance48 days ago
Japan's Prime Minister Instructs Review of Working Hours Systems
Japan's government is accelerating a review of working hours systems, including the discretionary labor system, to address stagnant productivity. The initiative was discussed at a growth strategy meeting. The goal is to increase labor productivity by 15% over five years through r…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewbusiness49 days ago
Japan Records Trade Surplus of JPY 667 Billion in March 2026
Japan achieved a trade surplus of JPY 667.0 billion in March 2026, an increase from the previous year. This marks the second consecutive month of surplus. The data highlights ongoing positive trends in Japan's trade balance.