DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Why Amtrak is attempting to revive the Texas Central bullet train
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Carlos Waters | In Carloswaters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In 2023, Amtrak revived hopes for the bullet train in the Texas Triangle, when it announced its intention to broaden its partnership with Texas Central. The Texas Central project has been repeatedly delayed as its backers navigate various regulatory hurdles, including environmental reviews and disputes over property rights. The proposed alignment for the Texas high-speed rail project crosses Morney-Berry Farm, which Berry's family has cultivated for generations. And in late 2023, Texas Central received a Corridor ID program grant to study the route's potential for partnership with Amtrak. The backers of Texas Central declined repeated requests from CNBC for a comment on the project's progress and expected completion date.

Persons: Andy Byford, Seth Moulton, Brianne Glover, Jody Berry, Berry, Biden, Troy Nehls Organizations: U.S, Texas Central, Amtrak, Fort Worth metroplex, Texas, Dallas, CNBC, University's Transportation Institute, Texas Supreme Court, Reason, U.S ., Japan Bank, International Cooperation, Speed Rail Authority Locations: Texas, Dallas, Houston, U.S, It's, Berry, Japan, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Japanese national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2023. If the BOJ pulls interest rates above zero for the first time in years, banks' lending margins could rise. Steve Donzé, deputy head of investment at Pictet Asset Management in Tokyo, said he had also been buying Japanese bank stocks. BOND PAINJapanese inflation means bond investors could suffer. But investors are cautious about this so-called yield curve control policy ending as the BOJ is forced to tighten monetary policy.

Persons: Issei Kato, Shigeka Koda, Koda, Steve Donzé, Junichi Inoue, Janus Henderson, James Halse, Warren Buffett, David Hogarty, Jon Day, Grégoire Pesques, Amundi, Pictet's Donzé, Naomi Rovnick, Kevin Buckland, Dhara Ranasinghe, Jane Merriman Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, LONDON, Asia Investment, Kosaido Holdings, Kyushu Financial, Pictet, Management, Platinum Asset Management, Global, Bank of America, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Dublin, Newton Investment Management, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO, Singapore, Sydney, United States, Europe, London

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Japan's top banks are set to commit to 1.9 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) financing to support the merger of Kioxia Holdings and Western Digital's flash memory business, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Several tech deals have been scuppered in recent years due to delays in regulatory approvals or rejections by China. 2 player in NAND flash memory chips - and Western Digital's fourth-ranked flash business, would control a third of the global NAND flash market, on par with top player Samsung Electronics (005930.KS). Kioxia and Western Digital have held merger talks since 2021 but the negotiations have often stalled over a series of issues including valuation discrepancies. In Japan, the two companies jointly produce NAND flash memory chips, which are widely used in smartphones, personal computers and other devices to store digital data.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Bain, Nobuo Hayasaka, Makiko Yamazaki, Miho Uranaka, Maki Shiraki, Miyoung Kim, Tomasz Janowwski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Kioxia Holdings, Reuters, Intel Corp, China ., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Development Bank of Japan, SK Hynix, Toshiba Corp, Samsung Electronics, Nasdaq, Western, Mitsubishi, Mizuho, Sumitomo Mitsui, Western Digital, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Kioxia

☆ India and Japan will be Asia's next power couple
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Pranav Kiran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida upon his arrival at Bharat Mandapam convention center for the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India and Japan are edging closer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's governments form part of the so-called Quad security grouping with the United States and Australia to counter Chinese expansionism in Asia. Now the two countries are setting up an investment fund together. That’s delivering on a pledge by Kishida to invest 5 trillion yen, or some $42 billion, into India over the next five years.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Fumio Kishida, Evan Vucci, Fumio, Kishida, Wood Mackenzie, Sajjan Jindal, India’s, Lakshmi Mittal, JBIC, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Indian, Japan, Bharat, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, National Investment, Infrastructure Fund, Japan Bank, International Cooperation, Japan External Trade Organization, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, Reuters Graphics, Teck Resources, Nippon Steel, ArcelorMittal, Japan Fund, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Japan, United States, Australia, Asia, Reuters Graphics India, China, Russia, South, Teck, Indian

Sept 8 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Brent crude oil is now higher than it was a year ago, the first time since January that year-on-year price changes have been positive. In other words, all else equal, oil is now contributing to headline inflation rather than diluting it. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Friday:- Japan GDP (Q2, revised)- Japan current account (July)- Japan bank lending (August)By Jamie McGeever; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, John Williams, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Josie Kao Organizations: Brent, Investors, New York Fed, nudging, Saturday, Saturday . U.S, Apple, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Japan, Asia, New Delhi, China, Beijing, Saturday .

☆ Japan and Malaysia must cooperate in the oil and gas industry: Bank chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJapan and Malaysia must cooperate in the oil and gas industry: Bank chairmanTadashi Maeda, chairman of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, discusses how countries can work together to address their carbon neutrality goals.

Persons: Tadashi Maeda Organizations: Japan, Bank, Japan Bank, International Cooperation Locations: Malaysia

☆ SMFG becomes first big Japan bank to sell AT1 bonds since Credit Suisse's debt wipeout
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Junko Fujita | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SMFG priced the bonds in two tranches, in 89 billion yen ($662.50 million) five-year notes, and 51 billion yen 10-year bonds, whose terms market players said were attractive. "In Japan, where spreads over corporate bonds are thin, the terms for these AT1 bonds were reasonably good, provided that the banking sector is credible," said Nana Otsuki, senior fellow at Pictet Japan. Swiss regulator FINMA determined that Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds would be wiped out, a decision that rocked global credit markets. AT1 bonds - known as "contingent convertibles" or "CoCo" bonds - can be converted into equity or written off if a bank's capital level falls below a certain threshold. The 51 billion yen one would yield 2.180% for the first 10 years and two months.

☆ Asia's regulators say banking system is robust and stable after UBS-Credit Suisse takeover deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Last week, Credit Suisse logged their worst weekly decline since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Hong Kong says industry is resilientThe Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the city's banking sector is resilient with strong capital and liquidity positions. "The total assets of Credit Suisse, Hong Kong Branch amounted to about HK$100 billion, representing less than 0.5% of the total assets of the Hong Kong banking sector. Credit Suisse customers will continue to have full access to their accounts and "contracts with counterparties remain in force. Japan banks 'shielded'As for Japan, the country's banking system is unlikely to be affected by the deal, said Cyrus Daruwala, managing director of IDC Financial Services.

☆ Japan bank lobby chief sees no signs of contagion from Credit Suisse woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A plunge in shares of Credit Suisse has renewed fears of a full-blown banking crisis, causing a rout in global bank shares. Credit Suisse later announced it would borrow up to 50 billion Swiss francs ($54 billion) from the Swiss central bank. "European banks generally have solid capital ratios, and so do Japanese banks," said Hanzawa, also the chief executive of MUFG Bank (8306.T). He also said systemic risks from the collapse of U.S.-based Silicon Valley Bank have been reduced since the Federal Reserve's decision to backstop all depositors. Losses in Silicon Valley Bank's bond portfolio have highlighted similar risks for Japanese lenders' gigantic foreign bond holdings and their relatively low loan-to-deposit ratios.

Banking giants Citi (C.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and JP Morgan (JPM.N) were also 1%-3% higher in the pre-market. Japanese financial institutions have sufficient capital buffers to absorb losses caused by external factors, including risks caused by SVB's collapse, the Bank of Japan said. Traders currently see a 50% chance of no rate hike at that meeting, with rate cuts priced in for the second half of the year. The prospect of higher rates had been "the reason investors have been really excited about Japan bank stocks", Ikeda added. We just ask for a little bit of time because of the volume," FDIC employee Luis Mayorga told waiting customers.

[1/2] Customers wait in line outside a branch of the Silicon Valley Bank in Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brian SnyderMarch 14 (Reuters) - Silicon Valley Bank's collapse continued to pound global bank stocks on Tuesday as investors fretted over the financial health of some lenders, despite assurances from U.S. President Joe Biden and other policymakers. The European banks index (.SX7P) fell 0.6% after posting its biggest percentage loss in more than a year on Monday. "Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. The prospect of higher interest rates had been "the reason investors have been really excited about Japan bank stocks", Ikeda added.

"Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. A furious race to reprice interest rate expectations also buffeted markets as investors bet the Federal Reserve will be reluctant to hike next week. Traders currently see a 50% chance of no rate hike at that meeting, with rate cuts priced in for the second half of the year. The prospect of higher interest rates had been "the reason investors have been really excited about Japan bank stocks." After marathon weekend talks, HSBC HSBA.L said it was buying the British arm of SVB for one pound ($1.21).

☆ Analysis: Door slams on Japan bank rally as focus turns to bond holdings in wake of SVB
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Losses in Silicon Valley Bank's bond portfolio have highlighted similar risks for Japanese lenders' gigantic foreign bond holdings, which are carrying over 4 trillion yen ($30 billion) in unrealised losses. Three days of selling has the Tokyo Stock Exchange banks index (.IBNKS.T) down 16% - its sharpest drop since the days after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. Reuters GraphicsBONDS GETTING HITMost of the time, bond losses aren't a problem for banks, which typically hold their investments to maturity. An annual Bank of Japan report published on Tuesday said Japanese financial institutions have sufficient capital buffers. "And maybe some concerns Japanese banks have exposures, and some profit taking," he said.

☆ Banks in Japan are still a 'very, very good' investment, says financial services firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBanks in Japan are still a 'very, very good' investment, says financial services firmJesper Koll of Monex Group says the "big megatrend" in Japan is to "make Japan banks strong again," and discusses why he likes MUFG Bank.

☆ Saudi Arabia extends $3 bln deposit term to cash-strapped Pakistan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Friday extended the term of a $3 billion deposit it made to Pakistan's foreign reserves, state news agency SPA and Pakistan's central bank said. Saudi Arabia deposited the money in Pakistan's central bank late last year as a loan to shore up the cash-strapped country's reserves. The central bank reserves stood at $7.5 billion as of Nov 25 this year. "Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) extended the term for the deposit provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the amount of 3 billion dollars to the State Bank of Pakistan," the bank said in a statement. Reporting by Alaa Swilam in Cairo and Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Alex Richardson, William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"We’ve built a platform for cooperation that can truly transform Indonesia’s power sector from coal to renewables and support significant economic growth," U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry said. EARLIER, LOWER PEAKThe Treasury official said that the peak power emissions for Indonesia in 2030 under the plan would be at a level 25% lower than their currently estimated peak in 2037. Indonesia's annual emissions reduction over those years would be larger than Britain's annual power sector emissions, the official said. U.S., JAPAN LEADThe United States and Japan are co-leading the effort with Indonesia on behalf of the other G7 democracies Britain, Canada, France, Germany Italy, as well as partners Norway, Denmark and the European Union. On Monday, Japan announced it would help Indonesia transition away from coal power through public and private institutions, including the state-affiliated Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

☆ Japan unicorn Opn buys MerchantE to enter U.S. online payment sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Digital payments processor Opn, a rare Japanese unicorn, or startup worth more than $1 billion, said on Tuesday it had acquired MerchantE from U.S. investment firm Integrum Holdings, making inroads into the U.S. online payment sector. The deal comes as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government strives to accelerate investments in startups and digital transformation to spur economic growth. "Startups have been getting a tailwind since the start of Prime Minister Kishida's administration," Opn Chief Executive Jun Hasegawa told Reuters. "Besides financial institutions that participated in the financing (for the deal), Japan Bank for International Cooperation and governmental funds such as Japan Investment Corp gave us strong support this time around," he said. Opn, pronounced "open", has been offering services mainly in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Thailand.

☆ Morning Bid: The final countdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Ahmed Mohamed Hassan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterFor some, it will be new territory. For all of them, being forced to spend billions of dollars of FX reserves is uncomfortable territory. A strong U.S. inflation print will likely push it even higher, intensifying the battle-ready resolve of central banks around the world. Cross-currency basis swaps, essentially a measure of dollar shortage and overall stress in the market, are at alarming levels. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Tuesday she sees no signs of stress or undue volatility in financial markets.

☆ Japan to offer low-interest loans for LNG procurement -Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The state-owned Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will provide low-interest loans to electric power utilities and city gas companies to buy the super-chilled fuel from the spot market, the paper said, without citing sources. Spot LNG prices remain at high levels amid a risk of supply disruption from Russia given its war with Ukraine. Japanese utilities buy the bulk of their LNG through long-term contracts, but about 20% comes from the spot market. Asian spot LNG prices have skyrocketed this year, hitting a record high in August, though they since have eased because of high inventory levels and governments' efforts to curb demand in Europe. It would cost Japan more than 1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) to buy 6 million tonnes of LNG a year from the spot market if shipments from Russia were stopped completely, the Nikkei said.

Search resuls for: "Japan Bank"

19 mentions found