Business Topics

Apr 27, 2013

BOJ stands pat on new monetary easing steps

by Jun Hongo

The Bank of Japan on Friday put off additional monetary easing while providing optimistic predictions in its Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices report by boosting inflation forecasts. The outlook, released every six months, predicts that the BOJ and government’s goal of achieving 2 ...

Apr 27, 2013

Consumer prices dip fifth month in a row

Consumer prices fell 0.5 percent in March compared with the previous year, logging five consecutive months of decline and underscoring deflation’s persistent grip, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile prices for fresh foods, stood at 99.5 ...

Apr 26, 2013

National casino ban might fold under 'Abenomics'

The government may insert a plan to lift the nation’s casino ban in the new economic growth strategy to be drawn up in June, informed sources said. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is examining the idea of designating special zones in which resort complexes ...

Apr 26, 2013

Keizai Doyukai to pursue more active policy role: chief

The Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) will become more active in making policy recommendations to the government, said Yasuchika Hasegawa, who chairs the major business lobby. Keizai Doyukai will work closely with government panels to have its proposals reflected in official policy, ...

Apr 26, 2013

Congress given 90 days to OK Japan TPP entry

The United States government on Wednesday notified Congress of its intent to include Japan in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative said, meaning Japan could enter as early as July. “Today’s notification triggers a 90-day consultation period with Congress ...

As U.S. economy picks up, richest get richer

Apr 25, 2013

As U.S. economy picks up, richest get richer

Wealth inequality widened dramatically during the first two years of the economic recovery, as the upper 7 percent of American households saw their average net worth increase 28 percent while the wealth of the other 93 percent declined, according to a report released Tuesday. ...

Apr 23, 2013

Japan might chair OECD meeting for first time since '78

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday that Japan hopes to chair next year’s ministerial council meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Kishida made the comment in a meeting with visiting OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria. Since no other candidates have surfaced, ...

Apr 23, 2013

Supermarket sales register first rebound in 13 months

Japan’s supermarket sales marked the first year-on-year rise in 13 months in March on a same-store basis, backed partly by spirited closing sales, an industry body said Monday. Total sales at 7,947 stores operated by 57 supermarket chains stood at ¥1,044.65 billion, the Japan ...

Apr 21, 2013

APEC ministers discuss free trade as TPP remains in focus

Trade ministers of the APEC forum discussed free trade and ways to facilitate investment as their two-day gathering kicked off Saturday in Indonesia. The meeting coincided with Japan winning formal approval to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks from all 11 member states ...

Apr 20, 2013

G-20 set to confirm devaluation restraint policy

Finance chiefs from the Group of 20 started a two-day meeting Thursday night in the U.S. with Japan expected to make an effort to play down concerns about its bold quantitative easing measures, which are weakening the yen and threatening to harm other economies. ...

Apr 19, 2013

Saudi Arabia investment deal near completion

Japan plans to sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia next month to facilitate Japanese investment in the world’s biggest oil producer to help secure overseas energy resources at lower costs, a government source said. The plan will coincide with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit ...