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Japan's factory output in surprise fall as Iran war takes toll on petroleum-based products

Japan's factory output in surprise fall as Iran war takes toll on petroleum-based products

By Kantaro Komiya and Leika Kihara TOKYO, April 30 (Reuters) - Japan's factory output unexpectedly fell in March as production tumbled for a range of chemical and petroleum-based goods, data showed on Thursday, suggesting the Middle East conflict is beginning to harm the country's fragile economy.
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BOJ warns inflation could rise well above target in risk scenario

BOJ warns inflation could rise well above target in risk scenario

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, April 30 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is projecting core inflation hovering around 3%, well above its 2% target, for two years in a row under a risk scenario of elevated oil prices and a weakening yen, highlighting the economy's vulnerability to an energy shock.
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Analysis-BOJ locks in June rate hike in a risky bet that nothing gets worse

Analysis-BOJ locks in June rate hike in a risky bet that nothing gets worse

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, April 30 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan effectively committed to a June rate hike this week as it talked up the risks of an inflation overshoot, a gambit that rests on a shaky assumption the Iran war won't significantly worsen the economic outlook.
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Dollar steady as investors brace for Fed decision in face of war

Dollar steady as investors brace for Fed decision in face of war

By Rae Wee SINGAPORE, April 29 (Reuters) - The dollar firmed on Wednesday as investors awaited a closely watched Federal Reserve rate decision in what was likely to be Chair Jerome Powell's swan song, with war in the Middle East raging and hopes for an imminent resolution dimming.
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Aircraft lessor AerCap says prolonged high oil prices could bring opportunities

Aircraft lessor AerCap says prolonged high oil prices could bring opportunities

By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - The head of the world's largest aircraft leasing company, AerCap, said on Wednesday that higher fuel prices have had little impact on the sector so far, but a prolonged spike would pressure airlines while potentially benefiting lessors.
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Humanoid Robots to Assist Baggage Handling at Tokyo's Haneda Airport Amid Labor Shortages

Humanoid Robots to Assist Baggage Handling at Tokyo's Haneda Airport Amid Labor Shortages

Japan Airlines is set to introduce humanoid robots to assist with baggage handling at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. These robots, manufactured by China's Unitree Robotics, will begin operations in May. The initiative aims to address labor shortages and reduce the physical burden on human workers. The robots are capable of moving luggage and cargo on the tarmac and are expected to become a permanent part of the workflow by 2027 if the trial is successful. The robots can operate for two to three hours before needing to recharge. This move is part of a broader effort to automate airport operations, although certain tasks, such as safety management, will still require human oversight.
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Analysis-Investors reload yen shorts in intervention test

Analysis-Investors reload yen shorts in intervention test

By Gregor Stuart Hunter and Rocky Swift SINGAPORE, April 29 (Reuters) - Investors have built the biggest short yen position in nearly two years, selling the currency against the euro, Swiss franc, British pound and Australian dollar in a bet that neither rate hikes nor risk of intervention will come
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Dollar holds firm after Fed raises inflation alarm, yen slips past 160

Dollar holds firm after Fed raises inflation alarm, yen slips past 160

By Jiaxing Li HONG KONG, April 30 (Reuters) - The dollar hovered near its highest in more than two weeks on Friday after some Federal Reserve policymakers turned hawkish, sending yields to a one-month top, while the Japanese yen's break above 160 sharpened focus on intervention risks.
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Investors react to BOJ's decision to hold rates

Investors react to BOJ's decision to hold rates

April 28 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady on Tuesday, but three of the nine-member board proposed hiking borrowing costs, signalling policymakers' concerns over inflationary pressures from the Middle East conflict.
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Asian stocks meander ahead of tech earnings, BOJ awaits

Asian stocks meander ahead of tech earnings, BOJ awaits

By Ankur Banerjee SINGAPORE, April 28 (Reuters) - Asian stocks held near record highs and the dollar was muted on Tuesday as investors weighed the geopolitical maelstrom in the Middle East and braced for megacap earnings and a slate of central bank meetings, with the Bank of Japan due later in the
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Bank of Japan set to keep rates steady as Iran war clouds outlook

Bank of Japan set to keep rates steady as Iran war clouds outlook

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, April 28 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is widely expected to hold off raising interest rates on Tuesday, but drop hawkish signals to leave itself scope to push up borrowing costs in coming months to counter inflationary pressure from the Middle East conflict.
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Big fuel bill, Spirit bailout may upend JetBlue Airways return to profitability

Big fuel bill, Spirit bailout may upend JetBlue Airways return to profitability

By Doyinsola Oladipo NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters) - Just as JetBlue Airways was nearing its first profitable year since the pandemic, a spike in fuel prices has revived questions about its turnaround, forcing the airline to raise more debt and quash bankruptcy speculation.