Business Topics

Japan to join TPP talks at next round in July

Japan to join TPP talks at next round in July

The 11 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership have agreed to hold the next round of free-trade talks in Kuala Lumpur from July 15 to 25, extending the meeting to include Japan as the 12th member. The United States and the 10 other member nations wrapped up their 17th round ...

'Abenomics' still has long way to go

May 25, 2013

'Abenomics' still has long way to go

by Jun Hongo

The recent volatility of the Nikkei 225 stock average should not be a cause for alarm, government officials assured Friday, but pundits pointed out that “Abenomics” seems to have a long way to go until the economy begins to show a robust and steady ...

ECB's Draghi says new European agency 'imperative'

May 25, 2013

ECB's Draghi says new European agency 'imperative'

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said Thursday it is “imperative” that Europe’s leaders create a new agency with powers to restructure busted banks to help the region leave its economic and financial crisis behind once and for all. In the text of a ...

May 25, 2013

U.S. city management takes a high-tech tack

Relatively mundane city management issues, from parking to water use, are going high-tech as cities seek to use analytics and information to improve their operations. Companies are pushing this kind of work, arguing it can improve city services and operations while lowering costs or ...

Fed bankers grapple with timing of exit strategy

| May 24, 2013

Fed bankers grapple with timing of exit strategy

The Federal Reserve is torn over when to slow its aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy. Its uncertainty burst into view Wednesday, when Chairman Ben Bernanke testified to the U.S. Congress in the morning and the Fed released the minutes of its last policy ...

African stock markets see gains

May 24, 2013

African stock markets see gains

The barrage of hourly tweets sent out by Aly-Khan Satchu — East Africa’s version of CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer — cheers on what Satchu says is a growing sentiment among investors: If you’re not investing in Africa, you should be. Or as ...

JGB yields hit 1% first time in year

May 24, 2013

JGB yields hit 1% first time in year

Japanese government bonds fell Thursday, with 10-year rates touching 1 percent for the first time in a year, on speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will curb stimulus and the Bank of Japan will tolerate an increase in yields. Japan’s five-year note rate matched the ...

May 24, 2013

Nissan to recall 841,000 cars over steering glitch

Japan’s number two carmaker, Nissan, said Thursday it would recall some 841,000 compacts worldwide due to a steering wheel problem. The recall will cover the Micra, known as the March in some markets, and Cube models produced in Japan and Britain between 2002 and ...

EU summit ends banking secrecy

May 24, 2013

EU summit ends banking secrecy

European leaders on Wednesday targeted a yearend deadline to do away with banking secrecy, hoping to recoup €1 trillion in lost tax each year to help beat recession and unemployment. However, British Prime Minister and current Group of Eight chair David Cameron, backed by ...