Sunday, August 1, 2010

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Most Recent Stories

So much for the IMF

‎”(There is) a growing recognition that the dispersion of credit risks to a broader and more diverse group of investors…has helped make the banking and wider financial system more... 

Cracks re-emerging in Japan’s convenience store industry

A Nikkei report published today told us that Japan’s convenience stores experienced their second lowest annual growth in financial 2009 since 1978 as sales booms derived from the introduction... 

Why aren’t Japan’s megabanks joining the US on financial sanctions against Iran?

Earlier today, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Treasury David Cohen visited Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group to outline US financial sanctions... 

Nikkei: Western firms buying overpriced property in Japan

On Monday, the Nikkei published an article asserting that Western firms “are returning to the Japanese real estate market, taking proactive steps in the hope of big gains once the market... 

Tourism Agency still not serious about tourism

A Kyodo article published today tells us: A private advisory panel for Japan Tourism Agency chief Hiroshi Mizohata held its first conference on Friday with six experts on various subjects, including... 

The number of registered foreigners declined for the first time in 48 years last year

TBS news tells us that according to the Ministry of Justice, the number of registered foreigners in Japan has dropped for the first time in 48 years. Here is their report: Unsurprisingly,... 

Subway opening shops in karaoke parlors

According to Friday’s Nikkei, Subway Japan opened up a small outlet inside a karaoke parlor in Ehime on Friday. Apparently the firm intends to sell sandwiches to takeaway customers as well... 

Japan consumer prices fell 1.2% in April

On Friday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced that Japan’s consumer price index had fallen 1.2% in April, while core consumer prices (excluding fresh food) tumbled... 

Cabinet Office: January-March GDP up 4.9% annualized

On Thursday, the Cabinet Office announced that Japan’s GDP had risen an annualized 4.9% in the January-March quarter. This result was lower than the 5.5% gain forecasted by a Bloomberg... 

Japan slips in global competitiveness rankings

For the first time in 17 years, the United States is no longer the most competitive economy in the world, according to IMD’s annual competitiveness survey. The US dropped to third place,... 

Department store sales down for 26th consecutive month in April

According to data released today by the Japan Department Store Association, sales at department stores nationwide fell 3.7% to 484.6 billion yen in April, marking the 26th consecutive month of... 

Labour Ministry: Wages fell 3.3% in FY2009

According to a report released today by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, wages in Japan fell 3.3% to 315,311 yen per month in fiscal 2009. This is the strongest drop seen since the... 

Jesper Koll at TEDxTokyo

Jesper Koll, Managing Director of Research at JP Morgan, spoke at the TEDxTokyo event this past weekend. The presentation focused on the difference between the collapse of the Japanese bubble... 

Japan’s monetary supply up again in April

On Thursday, the Bank of Japan released its preliminary figures for April monetary supply. The results show a 2.2% rise in M3 from April of last year, to 1.075 quadrillion yen. M3 includes currency... 

Economy Watchers Survey up 2.4 points in April

On Thursday, the Cabinet Office released the results of its monthly Economy Watchers Survey for April, and the results showed a 2.4 point increase over March to 42.4 points. The Economy Watchers... 

IMF: Japan’s national debt to hit 250% of GDP in 2015

A report released today by the International Monetary Fund asserts that Japan’s government debt will reach 250% of GDP in 2015. The IMF suggests that Japan increase its consumption tax... 

Japan’s foreign reserves up for first time in three months in April

According to data released by the Finance Ministry today, Japan’s foreign reserves rose by $4.16 billion at the end of April from the previous months to $1.047 trillion. The value of Japan’s... 

BOJ dollar swap?

According to Breitbart: The Bank of Japan’s decision Monday for a dollar swap accord with the U.S. Federal Reserve was welcomed by analysts, who said pumping liquidity into the banking... 

Apple: iPad to go on sale in Japan on May 28

Apple announced on Friday that it intends to put the iPad on sale in Japan (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK) on May 28. Advance orders can be made from... 

The DPJ really doesn’t get it or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the market

A slew of contradictory economic data is pouring out of Japan this week: McDonald’s saw net profit fall 80% in the first quarter while Uniqlo sales fell 12.4% in April. However, the Japan...