Business
Japan to respond to yen's 'excessive' moves after plunge: senior official
Japan will take "appropriate steps against excessive moves" in the yen, the country's top currency diplomat said Monday, after the currency fell sharply against the U.S. dollar even in the wake of the Bank of Japan further raising its policy interest rate last week. "We are concerned about one-sided and… Read
FamilyMart adding crane games to thousands of branches
7-Eleven Japan has been grabbing a lot of attention recently, what with their matcha dessert burritos and their new luggage storage service for travelers. But rival Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart isn’t going to let itself be forgotten, and it’s announced that it plans to make a big push in adding crane games and coin-op video… Read
BOJ poised for more interest rate hikes as markets ponder neutral levels
With no clear sign of an end to the Bank of Japan's cycle of interest rate increases, economists are expecting more hikes next year to levels that could usher in a new phase of monetary policy. As Japan's core consumer price index has stayed above the BOJ's inflation target of… Read
Walmart and other U.S. companies want to build a pipeline of skilled tradespeople
As the number of skilled tradespeople dwindles in the United States, Walmart is trying to build up its own workforce to keep conveyor belts moving, refrigerated grocery cases cold, and drains and parking lots flowing. The nation’s largest retailer and private employer revamped its training program last year to increase… Read
Young Japanese opting for 50-year loans amid soaring housing prices
The use of housing loans with terms of up to 50 years, far longer than the standard 35-year term, is spreading among younger generations in Japan amid a rise in housing prices. Young Japanese are buying the properties of their choice by reducing monthly payments, but a longer loan term… Read
Toyota to import U.S.-built vehicles to Japan from 2026
Toyota Motor Corp said Friday it will aim to import to Japan three models built in the United States from next year, in an apparent response to U.S. President Donald Trump's calls to reduce his nation's trade deficit with Japan. "By selling these three popular American models in Japan, Toyota… Read
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recovers $55 billion pay package in Delaware court ruling
Elon Musk, already the world's richest man, scored another huge windfall Friday when the Delaware Supreme Court reversed a decision that deprived him of a $55 billion pay package that Tesla doled out in 2018 as an incentive for its CEO to steer the automaker to new heights. Besides padding… Read
Japanese beverage firm Asahi to make 1st entry into African market
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd said Wednesday it will acquire British firm Diageo plc's alcoholic beverage businesses in East Africa for $3 billion, marking the Japanese beverage giant's first entry into the African market. Asahi, which is also considering rolling out its flagship Super Dry beer in the region, is seeking… Read
What to know about possible impact of Japan's rate hike
The Bank of Japan raised its key policy rate to a 30-year high on Friday to help curb inflation, as widely expected, and financial markets took the move in stride. The 0.25 percentage point hike took the BOJ's benchmark short-term rate to 0.75%, its highest level since September 1995. It… Read
Sony buys majority stake in 'Peanuts' comic for $457 million from Canada's WildBrain
Happiness is taking control of a beloved comic strip. Sony is buying a 41% stake in the Charles M. Schulz comic “Peanuts” and its characters including Snoopy and Charlie Brown from Canada's WildBrain in a $457 million deal, the two companies said Friday. The deal adds to Sony's existing 39%… Read
