Tag - economy

 
 

ECONOMY

Refining sources in Asia and analysts have said they expect to see more Canadian and Mexican oil heading to Asia if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump imposes planned tariffs.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 28, 2024
Asia likely to benefit from cheaper Canadian and Mexican oil if Trump imposes tariffs
Two sources familiar with Trump's plan say that oil would not be exempted from potential tariff hikes on imports from Canada and Mexico.
Trucks wait near the Zaragoza-Ysleta border crossing bridge to cross into the U.S., in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 27, 2024
Trump tariffs would harm all involved, U.S. trade partners say
Officials warn a trade war could erupt and damage economies, and seek talks with Trump after his surprise announcement of hefty tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.
"I asked for cooperation in next year’s wage negotiations for a substantial wage increase, building on this year’s momentum,” Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2024
Ishiba renews pressure on companies to ramp up pay
Average wage deals this year hit a 33-year-high as firms responded to demands to raise pay amid ongoing inflation.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 26, 2024
Trump pledges 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and more levies on China
The president-elect says he will sign executive orders to enforce the measures when he returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
The services producer price index rose 2.9% in October from a year earlier, the Bank of Japan data shows, accelerating from a 2.8% gain in September.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 26, 2024
Japan's steady corporate service inflation bolsters BOJ rate-hike view
The Bank of Japan is watching service-sector inflation for clues on whether demand-driven price gains are broadening enough to justify further raising interest rates.
At the United Nations climate conference in Baku, rich nations found that efforts to reduce their own emissions and fund climate programs elsewhere in the world bought them little favor with developing countries most at risk of global warming.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 26, 2024
Clean power must offer more hope to beat fossil fuels
Wealthy nations must treat climate change as a genuine crisis, advocating for bold financing programs to enable poor nations to industrialize with clean energy.
In developing Asia, where coal dominates and imported liquefied natural gas is expensive, natural gas remains limited in electricity grids.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 24, 2024
Gas got America off coal. Now, it's coming for Asia's oil.
It can work in concert with carbon-free energy to break the hold of the dirtiest sources of power.
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gives a speech on Friday at a meeting of a newly formed group within the Liberal Democratic party to promote investments.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 24, 2024
Former Prime Minister Kishida launches new group in ruling LDP
Kishida is keen to exert his influence, saying that he has a lot of unfinished projects, sources said.
Workers install a battery for a new electric vehicle model at Mitsubishi Motor's factory in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture.
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2024
Trump tariffs may target Japanese cars, economist says
The Moody's Analytics economist warned that this poses a huge risk to the Japanese economy.
A Nihon Kotsu Co. taxi departs one of the company's service offices in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 23, 2024
Japan to aid introduction of multilingual ride-hailing apps
With the number of inbound visitors rapidly increasing, rural areas are facing the urgent challenge of securing transportation options for tourists.
The policy chiefs of the Democratic Party for the People, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito — Makoto Hamaguchi (left), Itsunori Onodera (center) and Mitsunari Okamoto — shake hands after reaching an agreement on an economic stimulus package on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 22, 2024
Japan approves ¥21.9 trillion stimulus plan
Combined with expected spending from the private sector, this year’s package is estimated to add a total of ¥39 trillion to the economy.
Japan's core inflation held above the Bank of Japan's 2% target in October, keeping pressure on the central bank to raise its still-low interest rates.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 22, 2024
Inflation held above BOJ target in October, supporting winter rate hike
Food companies raised the prices of 2,911 items, with processed food prices increasing by 3.8% while rice prices rose 60%.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to approve an economic stimulus package totaling ¥21.9 trillion on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 21, 2024
Ishiba set to announce $140 billion stimulus package
The package aims address a range of challenges from inflation to wage growth, and alleviate a cost-of-living crunch.
Amid a slowing economy, Beijing has avoided large-scale fiscal stimulus to prevent further debt buildup, focusing instead on modest measures to alleviate regional financial stress without adding new borrowing.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 21, 2024
No, China doesn’t really have a debt crisis
Beijing is gun-shy about fiscal stimulus due to concerns more debt will build up. This thinking is muddled.
Rengo chief Tomoko Yoshino speaks at a news conference in Tokyo in October.
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2024
Union chief calls for Ishiba to step up wage hike efforts
Rengo's Tomoko Yoshino was keen to emphasize that wage gains have to spread more to workers at smaller firms.
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2024
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Travelers spent ¥5.86 trillion in Japan through September of this year, preliminary figures show, eclipsing the ¥5.3 trillion they spent in all of 2023.
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2024
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
The package will include cash handouts to lower-income households and subsidies to help families cope with rising utility bills.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda gives a speech in Nagoya on Monday. Ueda's signaling remains vague and noncommittal, further muddying the outlook for December.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 20, 2024
Dithering in December could cost Bank of Japan yen stability
For some analysts, the central bank is all but certain to raise rates next month, though others think it might be too early.
Pudong's Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 20, 2024
Japanese businesses grow more pessimistic on China’s economy
About 64% of Japanese companies said the Chinese economy is faring worse than last year.
Japan's exports rebounded in October, led by a pickup in chip equipment demand in China.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 20, 2024
Japan’s exports grow, helped by China even as global risks rise
Exports rose 3.1% from a year ago, led by strong growth in shipments of chip-making equipment, especially sales to China.

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Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan