Japan

Japan's Nikkei tops 68,000 for first time on AI-driven chip stock surge

Japan's Nikkei 225 index topped 68,000 for the first time on Wednesday after US stocks pushed further into record territory. The dollar briefly surpassed 160 Japanese yen before slipping back slightly. Oil prices rose more than USD 1 a barrel. Buying of technology shares linked to the boom in artificial intelligence has been driving rallies worldwide. By midafternoon, the Nikkei 225 was up 2.9% at 68,634.74. Shares in computer chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron gained 13.4%, while those for chip testing equipment maker Advantest gained 5.9%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 1.7% to 25,596.92, while the Shanghai Composite index added 0.4% to 4,092.53. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.9% to 8,806.40 and Taiwan's Taiex gained 2%. In India, the Sensex lost 1.1%. Markets in South Korea were closed for a holiday. On Tuesday, winners of the artificial-intelligence boom kept driving higher, pushing US stocks to more records. "One thing that stands out in today's market is how littl

Japanese toilet maker Toto ramps up its ceramics for AI chipmakers

Shares of Toto jumped as much as 11% in Tokyo on Wednesday, the biggest intraday jump in over a month

SoftBank overtakes Toyota as Japan's most valuable company amid AI boom

The rally has propelled SoftBank shares up more than 90 per cent this year, pushing the company's market value above 48 trillion yen, higher than Toyota's around 46 trillion yen

As US leadership wavers, Japan is stepping up as Asia's new powerbroker

While the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the Indo-Pacific, it was Japan that delivered the clearest warning on China's growing military assertiveness at Asia's premier security forum

Japan suspends Indian mango imports after 20 years: What went wrong?

The suspension follows reported deficiencies in fumigation and disinfection protocols at Indian treatment facilities used for export clearance

Japan woos visiting Philippine President with arms sales, China in mind

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is receiving an exceptional level of hospitality in a four-day state visit to Japan that culminates Thursday. There is a palace banquet, a prestigious national award and a clear message that Tokyo is keen to upgrade ties with a nation it sees as a key defence partner - and major arms customer - at a time of fears over China's military activity in Asia. Marcos' visit ending with his departure Friday has included a greeting by Emperor Naruhito, who gave him the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. On Thursday, Marcos will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which are expected to result in statements further strengthening defence and weapons cooperation. Speaking Wednesday to Japanese lawmakers, Marcos said the emphasis on raising ties to a higher level reflects an "exceptional level of trust" between the nations. Both nations have China firmly in mind as they tighten a military relationship that the Uni

Quad ministers announce maritime, energy and minerals cooperation

Quad foreign ministers announced new initiatives on maritime security, critical minerals, energy resilience and undersea cable connectivity at their meeting in New Delhi

Quad diplomats meet in Delhi to revive group after Trump tensions

Quad, formed to counter China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region, has been beset by tension after Trump last year raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% due to purchases of Russian oil

Japan slips to world's third largest creditor behind Germany and China

Japan's net external assets rose to an all-time high of ¥561.8 trillion ($3.5 trillion) at the end of 2025, but despite the increase, the total was surpassed by China

Toshifumi Suzuki, father of Japan's convenience stores, dies at 93

Toshifumi Suzuki pioneered the use of data to tailor inventory and built a business model centred on ready-to-eat meals and rapid inventory turnover

Japan's economy expands at 2.1% annual pace, boosted by consumer spending

The Japanese economy grew at an annualised rate of 2.1% in the January-March quarter, the government said Tuesday, showing its resilience despite rising energy prices because of the war in Iran. Japan's real gross domestic product, or GDP, the sum value of a nation's goods and services, grew at a seasonally adjusted 0.5% from the previous quarter. It was the second straight quarter of growth. The annualised number shows what the growth, or contraction, would have been if the quarterly rate continued for a year. Increased spending by consumers and businesses helped contribute to the stronger than expected results. Higher government spending also supported the expansion. Private consumption rose 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, or at an annualised rate of 1.1%, according to the preliminary data from the Cabinet Office. Public demand rose 0.3% from the previous quarter. Japan's economy contracted in July-September last year, then eked out moderate growth in October-December of 0.2% on-quarter

Philippines to be involved in any Taiwan conflict due to proximity: Marcos

Philippines, which has a territorial dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, is increasing its engagement with China to help maintain peace, Marcos said

Best of BS Opinion: Time to treat gold as a structural factor in economy

Today's BS Opinion wrap looks at gold imports and forex pressures, judicial infrastructure gaps, financing the Viksit Bharat dream, coal gasification, and Japan's wartime history

Japan's imperial hubris holds a dire warning for a violent century

As new empires pursue old ambitions and borders become bargaining chips, this anti-war treatise reminds us how history repeats itself through humanity's amnesia

Japanese crude tanker emerges after going dark near Strait of Hormuz

Eneos Endeavor had sailed into the Persian Gulf in late February to pick up crude from the United Arab Emirates' Das Island and Kuwait's Mina Al Ahmadi

Why firms in the country need to prioritise Japanese engagement more

Japan now has a fully open capital account and a largely floating exchange rate, which absorbs external shocks

India, Japan boost tech ties with pacts on medical devices, quantum science

India and Japan strengthened their strategic partnership in science and technology with the exchange of key agreements in the fields of healthcare innovation and emerging technologies during a high-level bilateral meeting in the national capital.According to an official statement from the Ministry of Science & Technology, on Tuesday, the meeting took place in the presence of Japan's Minister for Science and Technology Policy and Minister of State for Space Policy, Kimi Onoda and Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh.The discussion expanded cooperation across critical and frontier technologies, with the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of health and medical devices between the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and India's Department of Science and Technology (DST).A Letter of Intent (LoI) on cooperation in Quantum Science and Technology

Foreign Secy meets Japanese Minister, both sides agree to deepen ties

Both sides affirmed the importance of the India Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and agreed to deepen public private partnerships in economic security, the MEA said

Japan's MUFG to foray into Indian real estate, expand forex derivatives

Japan's biggest bank is setting up a team which will start operations this financial year, Shashank Joshi, MUFG India's deputy chief executive officer said

Asian stocks near record highs ahead of tech earnings, BOJ awaits

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.12 per cent, hovering near the record high it touched on Monday