DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Los Angeles firefighters fought investments in safer streets. For decades, fire regulations have made roads deadlier.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Street safety advocates say fire officials' focus on speed is making roads more dangerous. Many of the city's residents want to take action to make their streets safer. In March, LA voted overwhelmingly for a street safety policy that will finally enforce a nearly decade-old mobility plan to make the city's streets safer for non-drivers. Fire departments across the country have for decades opposed safer street design. He said fire departments can be convinced to support safer street design if they're heavily engaged by planners.

Persons: —, we're, didn't, Michael Schneider, isn't, Schneider, Johns Hopkins, aren't, what's, Patrick Siegman, Kazuhiro Nogi, Siegman, Andy Boenau, Dan Burden, they're, Burden, Dan Organizations: Service, LA, Vehicles, Business, LA ., Code, Getty, San Francisco, Supervisors, National Fire Protection Locations: Angeles, Los Angeles, America, LA, Texas, Osaka, Japan, Paris, France, American, Tokyo, AFP, Baltimore, California

☆ New data shows inflation is still high. Here's how to measure how that affects you
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That may not be a surprise to consumers who are still feeling the weight of higher prices. Inflation — as measured by the consumer price index — rose 3.5% from a year ago and 0.4% for the month. The consumer price index, or CPI, tracks the average changes in prices over time for consumer certain goods and services. Consequently, if your wages haven't increased by that much over the same period, you're more likely to feel the pinch of higher prices. About 60% of households are living paycheck to paycheck, McBride said.

Persons: Kazuhiro Nogi, Brett House, Eugenio Aleman, Raymond James, Aleman, Greg McBride, McBride Organizations: Afp, Getty Images, Columbia Business School, Consumers, Bankrate Locations: Tokyo

(Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)At Japan's highly anticipated "shunto" spring wage negotiations this year, the world's largest automaker Toyota agreed to the biggest annual pay increase for workers in 25 years. Market speculation reached fever pitch this week as various corporate giants announced robust negotiated salary increments that in some instances exceeded what unions petitioned for. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly said the outcome of this year's wage negotiations will influence the central bank's decision on when to exit the world's last negative interest rate policy. Japan's largest trade union grouping, known as Rengo, will announce the first collation of ongoing wage negotiations on Friday. Here's what you need to know about this year's spring wage talks, which takes place annually in March.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Bank of Japan, The Bank of Japan, Getty, Toyota Locations: Tokyo, AFP

☆ Asia markets poised for gains as investors await New Zealand rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Electronic board displays stock prices of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on February 26, 2024. (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific stock markets were set to inch up Wednesday after a subdued session as investors awaited key U.S. inflation and China data during the week, while the interest rate decision from New Zealand was also on tap. China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index reading and U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index — the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric — is due Thursday. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to hold its official cash rate at 5.50% later in the day, keeping it at a 15-year high. The earliest rate cut by the central bank is expected to be in July.

Persons: KAZUHIRO NOGI Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Getty Images, Reserve Bank of New Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, China, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ Japan and the UK are in recessions. Is the US next?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —And just like that, two of the world’s largest economies are in technical recessions. On Thursday, Japan and the UK both reported their second consecutive negative quarters of gross domestic product, fitting the widely agreed-upon definition of a recession. In 2022, the nation’s population declined by 800,000, marking the 14th consecutive year of contraction. In the UK, however, population and wage growth weren’t sufficient to stave off a drop in consumer spending, one of the main drivers of that economy. In the past two quarters, the nation’s economy experienced much higher than expected GDP growth, due in large part to robust consumer spending.

Persons: Paul Donovan, ” Donovan, Kazuhiro Nogi, ”, didn’t, Jerome Powell, “, it’s, there’s, Powell, Philipp Carlsson, doesn’t, “ it’s, Carlsson Organizations: New, New York CNN, UBS Global Wealth Management, Getty, National Bureau of Economic Research, don’t, US Federal Reserve, Boston Consulting Locations: New York, Japan, Germany, AFP, Ukraine

☆ Thai economy in 'crisis' prime minister says, pledges more stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attends a session of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting at the Hotel Okura Tokyo in Tokyo on December 17, 2023. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday he believes the country's economy is in crisis, adding the government would roll out stimulus measures in addition to handouts to boost growth. "I confirm that the economy is not doing well and is in crisis," he told reporters, adding it was fine if the central bank disagreed with him. Srettha's comments come after the central bank governor told Reuters on Tuesday that government stimulus measures would not fix structural issues plaguing Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy. The government this week slashed 2024's growth projections to 2.8% from an earlier forecast of 3.2% on weaker exports and foreign tourist arrivals.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, Kazuhiro, KAZUHIRO Organizations: Thailand's, ASEAN, Japan, Getty Images, Thai, Reuters Locations: Tokyo

☆ Ben Shelton: US tennis star doesn’t want to ‘put a ceiling’ on what he can achieve
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —About this time last year, Ben Shelton was an up-and-coming tennis player taking his first-ever trip outside the United States. It figures, then, that Shelton enters his second full season as a professional tennis player with weighty expectations. “There’s not one path for everybody, and I don’t think that my path is perfect, but it really worked for me,” says Shelton. I don’t feel like I have too many miles on my body yet.”On the court, Shelton is physical and powerful. I think I’m also more comfortable taking away time and coming forward to the net.

Persons: Ben Shelton, Shelton, ” Shelton, Skip, Novak Djokovic, Brad Gilbert, Andy Roddick, Frances Tiafoe, Geoff Burke, Reuters It’s, Roddick, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, coy, someone’s, ”, Aslan Karatsev, Kazuhiro Nogi, – Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, – Shelton, “ There’s, “, haven’t, Scott Perelman, Bryan, Djokovic, Mike Stobe, Shelton – Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Melbourne, ATP, Reuters, Football, Japan, University of Florida, NCAA, Roddick, Georgia Tech Locations: United States, Australia, Japan, American, USA, AFP, Georgia, Florida, Tokyo, Swiss, tennis

☆ Asia markets poised for a rebound after heavy sell-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A woman walks past an electronic quotation board displaying stock prices of each company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on August 25, 2023. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets were poised for a rebound on Friday, with Australia stocks set to bounce from a one-year low in the previous session as investors continue to digest more inflation data. Core consumer prices in Tokyo rose 2.7% in October compared to a year ago, government data showed. The core consumer price index for Tokyo includes oil products but excludes fresh food prices. Australia is set to release a reading on producer prices for the July to September quarter, with prices standing at 0.5% in the previous quarter.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Getty Images, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, Australia

FILE PHOTO-Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti delivers a speech at the G7 High-Level Corporate Governance Roundtable in Niigata on May 11, 2023. "It may be that the tax is inappropriate, it can certainly be improved upon ... but I do not accept that it is considered an unfair tax," Giorgetti said at The European House - Ambrosetti economic forum. Bank shares tumbled before the economy ministry clarified that the new tax would amount to no more than 0.1% of their total assets. Forza Italia is also seeking an exemption for small banks and wants a guarantee the levy will not be extended beyond 2023. Giorgetti did not comment on his government ally's proposals on the bank tax.

Persons: Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, KAZUHIRO, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgetti, Antonio Tajani, Siena, Giselda Vagnoni, Giancarlo Navach, Hugh Lawson, David Evans Organizations: Economy, Finance, Bank, League, Forza Italia, Monte, Thomson Locations: Niigata, Italy, Cernobbio

Japan’s Kyushu region has been experiencing heavy rainfall since the beginning of the month and Monday saw record-breaking levels, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Harumi Ozawa/AFP/Getty ImagesResidents maneuver through a flooded street in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, on July 10, 2023. JIJI Press/AFP/Getty ImagesJapan is not the only country currently grappling with intense rainfall. While heavy rainfall events will always happen, scientists say that climate change means they are becoming more severe. A warmer atmosphere is able to store more water, leading to more intense rainfall when it falls.

Persons: Harumi Ozawa, Kazuhiro Nogi, JIJI Press, ”, Richard Allan, Stefan Uhlenbrook, It’s, Uhlenbrook, they’re, ” Uhlenbrook Organizations: CNN, Disaster Management Agency, Japan Meteorological Agency, Getty, Reuters, JIJI, Japan, UK’s University of Reading, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Japan, Japan’s Kyushu, Chugoku, Kyushu, Karatsu, AFP, Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, Fukuoka, Oita prefectures, Tanushimarumachi, India, Delhi, New York, New York , Vermont , Massachusetts, Maine

☆ A.I., rate cuts and Japan's rebound: Asia stocks are looking 'much more promising' than U.S. peers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Japanese flag flutters over the Bank of Japan (BoJ) head office building (bottom) in Tokyo on April 27, 2022. At first glance, Asian stocks as a whole have more modest gains so far this year compared with their U.S. and European counterparts. But Asia is more economically diverse than Europe and the U.S., and there are still bright spots in the region, especially in Japan and South Korea. In April, the BOJ announced it will conduct a "a broad-perspective review of [its] monetary policy," which could span 12-18 months. But Lombard Odier still expects the BOJ to end the yield curve control policy before this review is over.

Persons: Kazuhiro Nogi, Nomura, Daniela Gombert, bode, Gombert, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Lombard Odier, Morgan Stanley, Google's Bard, Ernie Bot, Lombard, Marco Barresi, Barresi Organizations: Bank of Japan, Afp, Getty, U.S, Asia, Nomura, Nikkei, Bank of, Private, U.S . Federal, Chips, Lombard Odier Locations: Tokyo, Asia, Europe, U.S, Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Bank of Japan, Indonesia, A.I, OpenAI, Taiwan, China

☆ Japan stocks are roaring back. This rally may be different from the 1990's 'bubble high'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The bubble burst after the Bank of Japan tightened monetary policy at the start of 1990, triggering the collapse of equity and land prices. But analysts who spoke to CNBC said Japan is not headed for another crash like the one during the bubble. Furthermore, "current high inflation rates in Japan are due to higher import costs on the back of a weaker yen and high commodity prices. What led to Japan's bubble? Nikkei reported in March that share buybacks by Japanese companies was set to reach their highest level in 16 years.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Nogi, Dong Chen, Ryota Abe, Abe, Japan's, Shinzo Abe, Chen, SMBC, Warren Buffet's Organizations: Nikkei, Getty, Afp, Bank of Japan, CNBC, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Tokyo Exchange, Billionaire, Global Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Japan, China

☆ Asia inflation has peaked, region's growth to overtake U.S. and Europe, Morgan Stanley says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Citing reasons for his optimism, he said Asia is expected to deliver healthier growth rates while the West lags behind. Asia inflation 'not as intense'"We're definitely expecting growth in these two economies to be constrained by the fact that they have had this significant inflation problem," Ahya said in reference to the U.S. and Europe. The U.S. inflation rate has been holding well above the Fed's 2% annual target. Chetan Ahya Chief Asia Economist at Morgan StanleyChina's consumption 'on track'Another driver of Asia's growth is China's projected recovery in the second half of the year. "We're expecting China's recovery to broaden out in second half of this year," Ahya said.

Persons: Kazuhiro Nogi, Morgan Stanley, Chetan Ahya, Ahya, We're Organizations: Mount Fuji, Afp, Getty, Federal Reserve, Asia, Nurphoto, People's Bank of China Locations: U.S, Europe, Asia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Central, China, Jakarta

People are reflected in an electronic quotation board displaying the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average (top) as they cross a street in Tokyo on May 17, 2023. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher on Thursday ahead of a final vote on the bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling after it passed a key procedural hurdle in the House overnight. Private surveys for factory activity data for China, Japan, South Korea as well as several Asean countries will be released later today. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 saw a 0.18% gain after it retreated from the 31,000 mark on Wednesday, with the Topix also up by 0.22%. HSI futures stood at the lowest the index has been since Nov 28, 2022.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Australia's Organizations: Nikkei, Getty Images, Asean Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, China, Japan, South Korea

☆ Japan stocks snap seven-day winning streak as Hong Kong sinks to 2-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets mostly slid on Tuesday as talks between U.S President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ended without a deal. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he had a "productive" and "professional" meeting, and said "I think the tone tonight was better than any other night we've had discussions," McCarthy said outside the West Wing following the hourlong meeting. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed 0.42% down at 30,957, snapping its seven day winning streak. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index reversed earlier gains and to sink 1.27% to 19,428.08, its lowest closing levels since March 21, while mainland Chinese markets also traded lower. The Shanghai Composite closed down 1.52% at 3,246.24 while the Shenzhen Composite ended down 1.03% at 11,012.58.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, we've, McCarthy, Kospi Organizations: Nikkei, Getty Images, U.S, Wing, Juno Bank Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Australia, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Why Warren Buffett is so keen on Japan's versions of Berkshire Hathaway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Tim Hornyak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But Warren Buffett added a spark in April when he visited Japan to announce that Berkshire Hathaway boosted its investment in Japanese trading houses to 7.4%. Buffett said the five — Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui, and Sumitomo Corp. — are comparable to Berkshire itself. Samurai roots for Buffett's Japanese stocks The five trading firms that Berkshire has invested in are the biggest of Japan's so-called sogo-shosha, or general trading companies. Today, Japan's trading companies derive most of their revenue from non-trade activities. Shosha: The Big Five Mitsubishi The largest of Japan's trading companies is Mitsubishi Corp. , set up in 1954.

☆ Why fans say trips to Disney World are now 'incredibly complicated' to pull off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

But some travelers aren't thrilled about what it takes to pull off a trip to Walt Disney World these days. He said he goes to Disney World about "once a month." They will leave thinking food at Disney World is a "cheeseburger and a hot dog … which could not be farther from the truth," he said. Walt Disney World comprises four theme parks, two water parks and dozens of themed hotels, plus a shopping and entertainment area called Disney Springs. He called Disney World an "amazing spa destination" and said Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney, has shopping, live music and fantastic restaurants.

☆ BlackRock downgrades Japan stocks on possible monetary policy shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kazuhiro Nogi | Afp | Getty ImagesBlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, cut Japanese stocks to "underweight" – as Japan is set to appoint a new governor to lead its central bank. "We downgrade Japanese stocks on policy uncertainty and a worsening economic environment," BlackRock's research arm said Monday, before the government submitted its central bank picks to parliament. U.S. Treasury yields spiked, with the 10-year note and the 30-year note jumping 7 and 8 basis points respectively. One possibility is the Bank of Japan further widening its tolerance range beyond 50 basis points. Nikkei separately reported earlier this month that the central bank purchased 23.7 trillion yen ($182 billion) of JGBs in January, a new record high.

☆ The art of the buffet: Cruise chef of two decades explains how ships feed thousands of passengers at sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Marco Goetz has worked on some of the world's largest cruise ships as an executive chef. "On land, your daily routines are more organized — you know what is coming," Goetz told Insider. The art of the buffetGuests are served food in the Marketplace buffet onboard the cruise ship MSC Virtuosa. Throughout the cruise, buffet options are adjusted in accordance with guests' nationalities, Goetz told Insider. But, cruise ship workers receive living quarters (most chefs have their own cabin) and meals for free.

☆ Japan may build 2 huge warships to counter the growing missile threat from North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

That has led Japan to examine its missile defense, which relies on specially designed warships. The launches have forced Japan to examine its unique ballistic-missile defense system, which relies heavily on specially equipped warships to intercept incoming missiles. US Missile Defense Agency/Heather CavaliereJapan began developing its current BMD system in 2004. US Navy/MCS3 Quinton A. LeeThe Aegis-equipped BMD ships are the most important part of Japan's BMD system. US Navy/MCS Seaman Aleksandr FreutelThere are advantages to relying on maritime-based platforms for missile defense.

☆ Travel warnings: What other nations tell their citizens about US violence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

After all, the rate of gun-related deaths in the United States has been going up in recent years. CNN Travel keeps a periodic check on what the governments of the United States’ neighbors and closest allies tell their citizens about coming here. It also tells its citizens that “violent crime, including gun crime, rarely involves tourists, but you should take care when traveling in unfamiliar areas. In many states, it is legal for United States citizens to openly carry firearms in public. “Violent crime has targeted individuals and groups from the LGBTQIA+ community and those with diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Persons: –, It’s, They’re, ”, it’s, Tara Walton, Lauren Redfern, ” Redfern, Israel Israel, Uriel Sinai, sprees, Kazuhiro Nogi, Shinzo Abe, they’re Organizations: CNN, US, Violence, CNN Travel, United, Washington Post, Getty Images Canada, ”, US Department of Homeland Security, London, Israel, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lufthansa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Airlines, Haneda Airport, New Zealanders, & Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: United States, America, Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia, United States of America, Canada, Windsor , Ontario, Detroit , Michigan, Mexico, ” United Kingdom, United Kingdom, United, London, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Israel, Algeria, France, carjackings, Boston, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, ”, Atlanta, Germany German, Europe, Germany, Florida, Japan, Tokyo, AFP, Zealand, New Zealand, New

☆ Kipchoge will be at London Marathon, but not racing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the men's category race in the Tokyo Marathon 2021 in Tokyo, Japan March 6, 2022. Kipchoge, a four-times winner in London, clocked two hours, 01.09 seconds to take half a minute off his own record set on the same Berlin course four years ago. Returning to London he will present medals to thousands of youngsters racing parts of the course on Saturday, finishing under the famous gantry on The Mall. Briton Mo Farah, now 39, won the Mini Marathon three times and will be the man the locals want to see on Sunday. Brasher said that he was planning for London Marathon to accommodate 50,000 runners, up from the current total of around 40,000, probably from 2024, with a long view to matching that with 50,000 in the Mini Marathon to mark the race's 50th Anniversary in 2031.

☆ 8 companies Amazon, Microsoft, or Google might buy as they shop for deals amid the market downturn, including Workday, Unity, and Roku
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

That means Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud could be poised for a merger-and-acquisition spree. As for cloud acquisitions, analysts said Amazon's cloud unit didn't often buy companies. Cybersecurity has been a greater focus for Microsoft, AWS, and Google Cloud after the hack of the IT-software company SolarWinds in 2020. In 2019, Google purchased the data-analytics company Looker for $2.6 billion in cash under Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. With Kurian at the helm, bringing with him the Oracle acquisition playbook, Google Cloud may now have a bigger M&A appetite.

Search resuls for: "Kazuhiro Nogi"

23 mentions found