China's neighbors fret over Beijing's military and economic might, poll shows
China's neighbors feel threatened by the country's overseas investments and military might, even though people in many countries around the world view the Asian power's economic growth positively, a poll showed Thursday. While just over half of people in Japan agreed that China's economic growth ...
Japan considering tax breaks for firms that invest ¥10 million in startups
Government and ruling coalition officials are considering giving tax breaks to small and midsize companies that invest ¥10 million or more in startups, sources familiar with their discussions said Wednesday. The officials see the move as a way to revitalize the nation's economy, and aim ...
Japan corporate sales drop for first time in three years on China slowdown
Corporate sales fell for the first time in three years in the July-September quarter, pressured by China's economic downturn and dips in petroleum product prices, government data showed Monday. Combined sales of domestic companies dropped 2.6 percent from a year earlier to ¥349.50 trillion ($3.19 ...
SoftBank's startup bookkeeping draws scrutiny after WeWork fiasco
In early 2018, the founders of Chinese artificial intelligence startup SenseTime Group Ltd. flew to Tokyo to see billionaire investor Masayoshi Son. As they entered the offices, Chief Executive Officer Xu Li was hoping to persuade the head of SoftBank Group Corp. to invest ...
Loss-making Japanese public-private farm fund may be dissolved
The finance and farm ministries will "thoroughly" review the operations of a struggling public-private investment fund aimed at supporting the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries, and may opt to dissolve it, sources with knowledge of the matter said Thursday. They believe it would be difficult ...
Undermining activist investors will hurt Japanese companies
The government should be wary of alienating an ally that has aided its campaign to improve shareholder returns.
Trading house Sumitomo Corp. will spend some ¥500 million ($4.5 million) by February 2020 to acquire a 6.7 percent stake in Taiwan's top electric bus-maker, RAC Electric Vehicles Inc. The two will seek to capitalize on the Taiwan government's plan to replace 15,000 conventional buses ...
Japan, by Japanese and for Japanese
Japanese markets for the Japanese and by the Japanese is poised to become the next big megatrend in Tokyo financial markets.
SoftBank's Son says it's business as usual after record loss, but Tokyo traders aren't buying it
Masayoshi Son wants investors to believe that a record loss from investments in money-losing startups WeWork and Uber Technologies Inc. is but a bump in the road. Some aren't buying it. SoftBank Group Corp.'s shares fell as much as 4.2 percent in Tokyo trading on ...
SoftBank's lame dog: Wag Labs sale talks may take bite out of valuation
Wag Labs Inc., one of SoftBank Group Corp.'s high-profile venture investments, is seeking to sell itself for a knock-down price after growth stalled, according to two people familiar with the situation. The Los Angeles-based pet-care startup is in discussions with several potential strategic buyers. But ...
South Koreans shun Japan's products but not its 27% REIT investment returns
While some in South Korea have been boycotting Japan, they seem to draw a line at financial products that generate high returns. While many Koreans have ceased buying everything from beer to cars to clothing from Japan, and have canceled trips there amid an ongoing ...
U.S. activist fund laments Sony's rejection of spinoff proposal for 'uncut rough stone' chip unit
U.S. activist hedge fund Third Point LLC expressed frustration Thursday over Sony Corp.'s decision to stick with the status quo and turn down a proposal to spin off its lucrative semiconductor business. "It is difficult for us to imagine that a company of Sony's size ...
