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Japan and Vietnam Elevate Strategic Partnership, Targeting Increased Trade and Cooperation

Japan and Vietnam Elevate Strategic Partnership, Targeting Increased Trade and Cooperation

Japan and Vietnam are significantly strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, marked by the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Japan. This visit, the first by a Vietnamese General Secretary since 2015, underscores Vietnam's prioritization of its relationship with Japan. The two nations are focusing on three key areas: enhancing regional peace and stability, boosting economic security cooperation, and expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Economically, bilateral trade is projected to reach approximately US$58 billion this year, with a target of US$75 billion by 2030. This growth is supported by increased direct flights and a 15% rise in trade during the first nine months of the year, totaling US$43.7 billion. Japan is also increasing its investment in Vietnam, with US$2.45 billion invested from January to September, bringing total cumulative investment to US$81.2 billion, maintaining Japan's position as the third-largest investor in Vietnam. Cooperation extends to...

Japan to tap proceeds from BOJ asset sales as AI rout stokes fiscal worries

Japan to tap proceeds from BOJ asset sales as AI rout stokes fiscal worries

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi unveiled a plan on Friday to tap proceeds from the central bank's sales of exchange-traded funds (ETF) to finance her flagship investment projects, as a deepening AI-fuelled market rout threatens to dent tax revenue.

Analysis-Japanese savers have rediscovered interest rates and banks are feeling it

Analysis-Japanese savers have rediscovered interest rates and banks are feeling it

By Makiko Yamazaki and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - For years, Japanese savers left their cash in bank accounts that paid next to nothing because few things paid much more.

BOJ debated need for more rate hikes, scope for faster moves, September minutes show

BOJ debated need for more rate hikes, scope for faster moves, September minutes show

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan policymakers saw the need to keep raising interest rates with some signalling the chance of faster-paced increases, minutes of their September meeting showed, bolstering the case for another hike as soon as December.

Japan's real wages rise for ninth month in September, backing BOJ rate hike

Japan's real wages rise for ninth month in September, backing BOJ rate hike

By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Japan's real wages rose 2.2% in September from a year earlier, marking the ninth consecutive month of gains, government data showed on Friday, supporting the case for the Bank of Japan to keep raising interest rates.

BOJ debated need for more rate hikes, scope for faster move, September minutes show

BOJ debated need for more rate hikes, scope for faster move, September minutes show

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan policymakers saw the need to keep raising interest rates, with one signalling the chance of faster-paced increases, minutes of the central bank's September meeting showed on Thursday.

BOJ chief Ueda sees 'some upside risks' to inflation

BOJ chief Ueda sees 'some upside risks' to inflation

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Friday the central bank expects underlying inflation to stay around its 2% target but recognizes there are "some upside risks."

BoE joins the rate hike club, Australia may be done already

BoE joins the rate hike club, Australia may be done already

By Sophie Kiderlin and Stefano Rebaudo LONDON/MILAN, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Several major central banks have raised interest rates this week, though they appear at very different stages of the tightening cycle, with some just getting started and others potentially nearing the end.

Dollar little changed as oil prices bounce, payrolls eyed

Dollar little changed as oil prices bounce, payrolls eyed

By Chuck Mikolajczak NEW YORK, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The dollar index was roughly unchanged on Thursday, as oil prices rebounded following a sharp drop in the prior session and investors weighed the possibility of a slowdown in AI-related spending dampening economic growth.

SoftBank credit risk jumps to 4-year high, shares tumble as AI fears roil market

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By Anton Bridge SINGAPORE/TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group shares dropped 11% on Friday and the cost of insuring its debt against default hit a four-year high as worries about AI profitability roiled the world's financial markets.

Dollar edges up as oil prices bounce, payrolls eyed

Dollar edges up as oil prices bounce, payrolls eyed

By Chuck Mikolajczak Nov 5 (Reuters) - The dollar index rose slightly on Thursday, as oil prices rebounded following a sharp drop in the prior session and investors gauged uncertainties surrounding the war in Iran in the wake of sweeping Democratic victories in the US midterm elections.

Japan services activity expands for fifth month, PMI shows

Japan services activity expands for fifth month, PMI shows

TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Japan's service sector expanded modestly in October as activity and new orders both rose slightly faster, a business survey showed on Thursday.