October 20, 2025

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BUSINESS

Markets

The Bank of Japan in Tokyo. Turmoil in developed nations such as France and Japan underscores how politics is eclipsing central bank policy as a key market driver.

BUSINESS / Markets

Oct 13, 2025

The politics premium is punishing bonds from Paris to Tokyo

Investors are demanding fiscal consolidation, while anything resembling austerity can prove politically contentious and toxic at the ballot box.

Pudong's Lujiazui Financial District on Oct. 2. While Chinese markets will get their first chance to respond on Monday, any following of the U.S. selloff may be tempered by weekend signals from the White House that it’s open to a deal.

BUSINESS / Markets

Oct 13, 2025

China markets under threat from risk of renewed U.S. trade war

By Dave Sebastian and Tian Chen

After Beijing unveiled curbs on the export of rare earths earlier in the week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would put an additional 100% tariff on China from Nov. 1.

In a ranking of the best-performing equity indexes this year, the U.S. doesn’t crack the Top 50. You need to go all the way to No. 66 before the world’s most valuable equity index shows up — one of the worst relative performances since the global financial crisis for the U.S. benchmark.

BUSINESS / Markets / FOCUS

Oct 12, 2025

A great year for U.S. stocks? Not compared with rest of the world.

By Michael Msika, Winnie Hsu and Sagarika Jaisinghani

The underperformance, market participants say, owes just as much to a broader shift in the mindset among foreign investors

Less than a week ago, Sanae Takaichi seemed set to become Japan's first female prime minister.

BUSINESS / Markets

Oct 10, 2025

‘Takaichi trade’ starts unwinding as political calculus upended by Komeito exit

By Kazuaki Nagata

Stocks fell and the yen rose after the coalition collapsed

Tokyo stocks have been rallying in recent months even as uncertainties build locally and globally.

BUSINESS / Markets

Oct 9, 2025

Buzz builds for a 50,000 Nikkei 225 as index breaks yet another record

By Francis Tang

Benchmark has hit nine all-time highs in about six weeks.

Magnetic slices made from rare earth metals at a factory run by the Canadian company Neo Performance Materials in Narva, Estonia, on Sept. 17. China is exerting its power over rare earth magnets as leverage in international trade.

BUSINESS / Markets

Oct 9, 2025

China tightens rare earth export controls, targeting defense and chips

China produces over 90% of the world's processed rare earths and rare earth magnets.

For decades, investors have turned to the yen during market shocks, but that instinct is now under strain.

BUSINESS / Markets

Oct 9, 2025

Yen’s haven status undercut by gold surge and BOJ rate-hike doubts

By John Cheng and Ruth Carson

For decades, investors have turned to the yen during market shocks, from financial crises to geopolitical blowups.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.

Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building

By Patrick St. Michel

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

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