Page 25 - Japan

Yen struggles before BOJ decision; dollar steady ahead of US jobs report

The yen has fallen more than 6 per cent in October and is on track for what would be its biggest monthly loss against the greenback since November 2016

Japan high court rules country's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional

A second Japanese high court ruled Wednesday that the government's policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the latest in a series of decisions upholding plaintiffs' demands for marriage equality. The Tokyo High Court called the ongoing ban a groundless legal discrimination based on sexual orientation, saying it violates the constitutional guarantee of right to equality, as well as individuals' dignity and equality between sexes. It was a clearer statement than the 2022 lower court decision that described the situation as an unconstitutional state. The Sapporo High Court ruling in March said not allowing same-sex couples to marry and enjoy the same benefits as straight couples violates their fundamental right to equality and freedom of marriage. Wednesday's ruling is the seventh overall that found the ongoing ban to be unconstitutional or nearly so, against only one district court decision that found it constitutional. The rulings can still be appealed to the Supreme ...

Japan's Mount Fuji snowless in late October, breaking 130-year record

Typically, Mount Fuji sees its first snowfall by early October, with the last record set for October 26 in 1955 and 2016

Daiwa's profit surges over 80% as investors flock to stock markets

Net income jumped more than 80 per cent from a year earlier during the three months ended Sept. 30 to ¥53.8 billion ($352 million)

What does a shocking parliamentary loss for Japan's long-ruling party mean?

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling party and its junior partner lost their majority in Sunday's parliamentary election. The loss, much bigger than expected, is bad news for a leader who's only been in power for a month. It's largely a reflection of voters' anger at the repeated financial scandals that have hit the Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan nearly without interruption since 1955. The big loss throws the nation's politics into turmoil, and will make it difficult for Ishiba to push through the changes he needs to win back voter support. The Associated Press explains how the election results could weaken Ishiba's hold on power, and what the poor showing means for Japan's diplomatic, economic and security goals. What happened Sunday? The governing Liberal Democratic Party lost its sole majority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament. Even adding the Buddhist-backed Komeito party, which has partnered with the LDP for a

Election shock in key US ally Japan could embolden China and rivals

In response to escalating Chinese military activity around its islands and nearby Taiwan, including more regular drills with Russia and the first ever intrusion by a Chinese plane

Yen mired in political uncertainty, dollar awaits key data releases

Elsewhere, the dollar eased a touch, though remained not too far from its recent high ahead of major US data releases

Japan boosts defence capability with missiles to counter Chinese expansion

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is set to conduct the first test launch of its new anti-ship missile in fiscal year 2027

Japan's Shigeru Ishiba vows to bring stability after losing majority

"The LDP suffered a crushing defeat," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute, who sees a December rate hike as the main scenario

Ruling LDP loses lower house majority exacerbating challenges for new PM

Support from smaller parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) or the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), who won 28 and 38 seats respectively, could now be key for the LDP

Asian shares rise as yen dips after Japan's ruling party loses majority

Asian shares rose on Monday as the yen dipped in the midst of political uncertainty after Japan's ruling party lost its majority in Parliament's lower house in weekend elections. In currency trading, the US dollar rose to 153.76 Japanese yen from 152.24 yen. It was trading at 140-yen levels last month. The euro cost USD 1.0796, down form USD 1.0803. The weak yen is a boon for Japan's giant exporters like Toyota Motor Corp., whose stock gained 3.7 per cent in Tokyo trading. Nintendo Co. gained 2.6 per cent, while Sony Corp. rose nearly 2.0 per cent. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is still the top party, but several members failed to win reelection in Sunday's vote after a scandal involving unreported campaign funding. All told, the ruling coalition with junior partner Komeito secured 215 seats, down sharply from the majority of 279 it previously held, according to Japanese media. A change of government is not expected but the LDP may need a third coalition partner. Tokyo .

Yen dips as Japan's election outcome casts doubt on BOJ's rate hike plans

On the dollar, the yen hit its weakest since late July at 153.3 in early-morning trade

Japan's ruling party braces for blow to comfortable majority in lower house

The results could weaken Ishiba's grip on power, possibly leading Japan into political uncertainty, though a change of government was not expected

US, Japan and, South Korea join hands to support digital infra in India

The United States, Japan and S Korea on Friday announced the launch of a new framework that furthers their collaboration with the Indian private sector to support digital infrastructure in India. An announcement in this regard was made by the US International Development Finance Corporation, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank). DFC CEO Scott Nathan, JBIC Governor Nobumitsu Hayashi, and Korea Eximbank Chairman and CEO Hee-sung Yoon signed the Digital Infrastructure Growth Initiative for India Framework (DiGi Framework) to support projects in the information and communications technology sector such as 5G, Open RAN, submarine cables, optical fiber networks, telecom towers, data centres, smart city, e-commerce, AI, and quantum technology, a media release said. The DiGi Framework creates a streamlined process where DFC, JBIC, and Korea Eximbank, in partnership with the Indian private sector, can provide support to mee

National Stock Exchange's IPO hinges on approval from Sebi, says CEO

The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd., whose initial public offering has faced delays since it initial filing in 2016, needs approval from the Sebi to reapply

Core inflation in Japan's capital slips below BOJ's target in October

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has said the bank will keep raising rates if inflation remains on track to stably hit 2 per cent as it projects

Japan, US finance chiefs discussed FX moves in bilateral meeting: Official

A weak yen has become a source of concern for Japanese policymakers as it hurts households and retailers by pushing up the cost of raw material imports

Restructuring will boost 7-eleven growth prospects: Seven & i CEO

While its Japanese 7-Eleven convenience stores are a money-spinner, Seven & i has been hobbled by poor performance at its supermarkets, including the Ito Yokado stores that make up a part

Tokyo exchange employee under probe for alleged insider trading: JPX

TBS said the relative used the information to make at least several hundreds of thousands of yen worth of profit from equity trading

Japan, UK and Italy to speed up joint next-generation fighter jet project

The defence ministers of Japan, the UK and Italy agreed to accelerate the joint development of a next-generation fighter jet, and announced that a trilateral government organisation would be established by the end of this year to work with the parties producing the aircraft, Japanese officials said Sunday. The three countries agreed in 2022 to jointly produce a new combat aircraft that will be ready for deployment in 2035, under the Global Combat Air Programme, or GCAP, to strengthen cooperation in the face of growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea. The next generation fighter jet would replace Japan's retiring F-2s that it jointly developed with the US and Britain's Tempest. On Sunday, Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, after meeting with his UK and Italian counterparts, John Healey and Guido Crosetto, said a joint body called the GCAP International Government Organization, or GIGO, will be set up by the end of this year to oversee the aircraft's development. The