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☆ It looks like Taylor Swift will make it to the Super Bowl after all
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It arrived from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Los Angeles' LAX airport moments after 3:30 p.m. local time. Fans arrive at the Tokyo Dome, for the Taylor Swift concert, as part of the "Eras Tour" Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Tokyo. It’s so romantic," said office worker Hitomi Takahashi, 29, who bought matching Taylor Swift sweatshirts with her friend and took photos just outside the Tokyo Dome. Business Insider reported that the jet-setting starlet downsized from two planes to one plane. Representatives for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Taylor, Swift, they've, Travis Kelce, sleuths, Taylor Swift, Eric Thayer, ” Swift, Toru Hanai, Hitomi Takahashi, ”, Jack Sweeney, Swift's, “ Organizations: Service, LAX, Business, NFL, Los Angeles International Airport, Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Swift, Chiefs Locations: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Haneda, Kelce's, Washington, Asia, Australia, Instagram .

☆ Japan's Nomura to cut risk assets, costs for wholesale business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Nomura Securities is seen at the company's Head Office in Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2016. The fixed income trading business is expected to improve as the outlook for global interest rates becomes clearer, but "we won't just wait for a market recovery," he added. A bright spot for Nomura is the domestic business, as the Japanese stock market is trading at highest levels in three decades. Nomura's Japan business revenue for the April-September first half of the current fiscal year grew 31% from the same period a year before. The Japan market recovery "is providing the greatest business chance for us with the strong Japanese franchise and global investor base," he said.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Kentaro, Kentaro Okuda, Okuda, Nomura, Makiko Yamazaki, Simon Cameron, Moore, Kim Coghill Organizations: Nomura Securities, REUTERS, Rights, Nomura Holdings, Nomura, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ ADNOC German oil deal has bad timing, good logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned Abu Dhabi oil giant he runs, is considering a bid for BASF-owned (BASFn.DE) Wintershall Dea, at a potential $11 billion valuation. The UAE firm is already in talks to buy chemical company Covestro (1COV.DE), Wintershall’s German compatriot, for $12 billion. Abu Dhabi's oil riches mean the UAE firm has the wherewithal to pay 5.5 billion euros for BASF’s Wintershall stake. Any deal could value Wintershall Dea at more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion), Bloomberg reported. BASF holds a 72.7% stake in Wintershall Dea.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Wintershall, Jaber, It’s, Austria’s, Abu, LetterOne, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, BASF, The, Shell, Russian, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Abu, National Oil Company, Bloomberg, Wintershall Dea . Investment, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Abu Dhabi, The UAE, Germany, Norway, UAE, Europe, United Kingdom, Abu, Russia, Wintershall Dea

☆ Ava Marie Ziegler enjoys surprise win to lead American 1-2 in major international figure skating competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —American teenager Ava Marie Ziegler won her first ISU Grand Prix Figure Skating title, as she sealed victory at the NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan following a sparkling routine in the free skate. “I really used my fifth-place result yesterday to motivate me because I know that I could do better and I really used it to push me to be the best that I could be,” Ziegler said, according to the International Skating Union. It (this result) definitely helped with my confidence.”Ava Marie Ziegler of the United States reacts to her score. Toru Hanai/International Skating Union/Getty ImagesHer free skate routine yielded a personal best of 138.46 points, and she scored 200.50 points overall, breaking the 200-point mark for the first time in her career. While Ziegler and Thorngren have not qualified for the final, their compatriots Isabeau Levito and Ilia Malinin will represent the USA in the women’s and men’s singles, respectively.

Persons: Ava Marie Ziegler, Lindsay Thorngren, Belgium’s Nina Pinzarrone, Thorngren, axel, “, ” Ziegler, ” Ava Marie Ziegler, Toru Hanai, Ziegler, Isabeau Levito, Ilia Malinin Organizations: CNN, ISU, NHK, International Skating Union, Skating Union, Getty Locations: Osaka, Japan, United States, Beijing, China, USA

☆ Japan's factory activity shrinks for 6th month on weak demand - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) slipped to 48.1 in November from 48.7 in October. "Demand conditions at private sector firms remained muted in November and were little-changed from October." The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI stood at 51.7 in November, little changed from 51.6 in October, showing modest expansion in the sector, but it was the second-weakest reading so far this year. Firms stayed confident about the business activity outlook for one year ahead, the survey said. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI, which combines both manufacturing and service sector activity, stood at 50.0 in November from 50.5 in October.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Usamah Bhatti, Kaori Kaneko, Kim COghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, P Global Market Intelligence, PMI, Firms, Jibun Bank Flash Japan, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

☆ Japan's Mizuho applies to set up securities company in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Mizuho Financial Group logo is seen at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan August 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/TOKYO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Japan's Mizuho Financial Group (8411.T) has sought to establish a securities company in China, becoming the latest foreign firm to make inroads into China's onshore securities market with a fully-owned entity. The China Securities Regulatory Commission has received the application from the securities arm of the third-largest Japanese banking group, according to a filing record issued on Wednesday from the regulator's website. The application comes as Mizuho is hoping to tap China's lucrative capital markets fee pool, the largest after the United States and Europe. Citigroup (C.N) and Standard Chartered (STAN.L) are also in the process of establishing securities units in China after Beijing allowed wholly-owned foreign securities companies in 2019.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Mizuho, Makiko Yamazaki, Jacqueline Wong, Mrigank Dhaniwala, Kim Coghill Organizations: Mizuho Financial, REUTERS, Rights, Mizuho Financial Group, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Citigroup, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Hong Kong, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights BEIJING, TOKYO, China, Mizuho, United States, Europe, Beijing, Hong

☆ Panasonic’s auto deal deserves a speedy sequel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Panasonic’s (6752.T)decision to sell part of its automotive unit suggests CEO Yuki Kusumi’s plans are taking a promising turn. The business, which pioneers technology like infotainment systems for the next generation of internet-connected cars, is a growing but capital-intensive opportunity. Selling a stake to Apollo Global Management (APO.N), with the possibility of a listing later, could help fund faster development without denting Panasonic’s balance sheet or returns. This was an obvious target for Kusumi, who previously led the auto unit. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Yuki Kusumi’s, Panasonic’s, it’s, Katrina Hamlin, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: Panasonic Corp, Advanced Technologies, Makuhari, REUTERS, Reuters, Apollo Global Management, Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, X, Walmart, Thomson Locations: JAPAN, Chiba, Japan, HONG KONG, Asia, Rome

☆ Panasonic plans to sell stake in autos business to Apollo Global funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of Panasonic Corp is pictured at the CEATEC JAPAN 2017 (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, October 2, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings (6752.T) said on Friday it plans to sell a stake in its automotive systems business to funds managed by U.S. private equity firm Apollo Global Management, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with an Apollo affiliate. Continued investment in the automotive systems business would be necessary to achieve sustained growth for the company amid a rapid shift to electric cars and changes to vehicle architecture, Panasonic said. The automotive unit makes cockpit and electronics systems. It is separate from Panasonic's energy unit that makes batteries for electric vehicles, including those from Tesla (TSLA.O).

Persons: Toru Hanai, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Panasonic Corp, Advanced Technologies, Makuhari, REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Panasonic Holdings, U.S, Apollo Global Management, Apollo, Panasonic, Thomson Locations: JAPAN, Chiba, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Japan's export growth slows as China, global downturn risks loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A worker is seen among newly manufactured cars awaiting export at port in Yokohama, Japan, November 15, 2017. Weak exports have complicated Japan's efforts to spur economic growth with sluggish domestic demand also weighing on the post-pandemic recovery. Japan's export growth slowsJapan's economy weakened in July-September, snapping two straight quarters of expansion on soft consumption and exports, data showed on Wednesday. By destination, exports to China, Japan's largest trading partner, fell 4.0% year-on-year in October, posting 11 straight months of declines. The trade balance came to a deficit of 662.5 billion yen ($4.38 billion), versus the median estimate for a 735.7 billion yen deficit.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Atsushi Takeda, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, TOKYO, Ministry of Finance, Itochu Economic Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Japan, China, United States, Europe

☆ Japan fund INCJ sells $1.8 bln of Renesas shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Renesas Electronics Corp's logo is pictured at the company's conference in Tokyo, Japan, April 11, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Japanese state-backed fund INCJ said it has sold all but a token portion of its stake in semiconductor manufacturer Renesas Electronics (6723.T), offloading 279 billion yen ($1.84 billion) worth of shares. INCJ had previously held 6.65% of Renesas' shares, it said in a statement on Thursday. The sale price of 2,143 yen ($14.17) per share represented a discount of 8.01% on Renesas' closing share price of 2,329.5 yen on Thursday, the fund said in a separate statement on Friday. Renesas' shares had dropped 4.5% to 2,224 yen by mid-morning on Friday.

Persons: Toru Hanai, INCJ, Renesas, Anton Bridge, Christopher Cushing, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Renesas Electronics, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Honda posts 31% Q2 operating profit jump, raises full-year forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People are reflected on a Honda Motor car outside the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Honda Motor Co Ltd FollowTOKYO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Honda Motor (7267.T) posted a 31% increase in operating profit for the September quarter on Thursday, lifted by stronger sales in the United States and a weaker yen, and raised its full-year forecast by 20%. Japan's second-biggest automaker by sales said operating profit totalled 302.1 billion yen ($2.0 billion) in the three months to Sept. 30, compared with an average 345.3 billion yen estimate in a poll of 10 analysts by LSEG. Honda raised its full-year operating profit forecast to 1.2 trillion yen from the 1 trillion yen it had expected, largely in line with the 1.237 trillion yen average forecast from 21 analysts. ($1 = 151.0600 yen)Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by David Dolan and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Honda Motor, REUTERS, Honda, LSEG, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, China

☆ Abu Dhabi's ADNOC makes new bid for stake in Brazil's Braskem; shares soar
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai Acquire Licensing RightsSAO PAULO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem (BRKM5.SA) on Thursday said Abu Dhabi oil company ADNOC (ADNOC.UL) has presented a new non-binding offer to buy conglomerate Novonor's stake in the firm. The petrochemical company cited a letter exchange with Novonor in its filing. The conglomerate would be granted a minority stake of up to 3% in Braskem following the deal, Braskem added. ADNOC had previously presented a joint cash-and-debenture offer alongside U.S. asset manager Apollo (APO.N) for Braskem, with other bidders for the firm including Brazil's Unipar Carbocloro (UNIP6.SA) and J&F.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Braskem, ADNOC, Folha de S.Paulo, BTG, Pedro Soares, we're, Brazil's Unipar, Gabriel Araujo, Steven Grattan, Tomasz Janowski, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, SAO PAULO, Petrobras, PETR4, Novonor's, Sao Paulo, Novonor, Folha de, ADNOC, U.S, Apollo, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Sao, Braskem

☆ Japan business mood improves, but global stress dims outlook - Reuters Tankan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People walk on a crosswalk at a business district in central Tokyo, Japan September 29, 2017. The monthly poll mirrored a similar improvement seen in the third quarter in the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) closely-watched quarterly tankan survey. The service-sector index grew to plus 27 from plus 24 in the previous month, led by retailers, information and communications, and other services. Analysts expect Japan's economy, the world's third-biggest, to have shrunk in the third quarter, the first contraction in four quarters, according to a Reuters poll. The Reuters Tankan indexes are calculated by subtracting the percentage of pessimistic respondents from optimistic ones.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Tetsushi, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Bank of Japan's, pessimists, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO, China

☆ Japan's Itochu raises profit forecast on strong machinery business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - Japanese trading house Itochu (8001.T) posted a 14.5% drop in six-month net profit on Monday but raised its full-fiscal year profit forecast on stronger expectations for its machinery business and the weaker yen. Itochu increased its net profit forecast for the year ending in March 2024 by 20 billion yen to 800 billion yen ($5.4 billion) after weaker coal and iron ore prices resulted in its half-year net profit falling to 412.90 billion yen. "We have raised our full-year profit forecast for the machinery segment, backed by strong performance of automobile, construction machinery and North America's power business," President and Chief Operating Officer Keita Ishii told a news conference. The full-year profit forecast for Itochu's machinery business -- its second-biggest profit contributor after the metals and minerals segment and which makes ship and car parts and industrial machinery -- was increased by 10 billion yen to 115 billion yen. The company also said it will buy back up to 1.2% of its shares, worth 75 billion yen.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Keita Ishii, Ishii, Katya Golubkova, Yuka Obayashi, Kim Coghill, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Itochu, REUTERS, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China

☆ Japan's Itochu H1 net profit down 14.5% y/y, sets buy back
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Itochu Corp is seen outside the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, November 7, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - Japanese trading house Itochu (8001.T) on Monday posted a 14.5% drop in six-month net profit but raised its full-fiscal year profit forecast on stronger non-resource business development expectations and weaker yen. Itochu's net profit to Sept. 30 was 412.90 billion yen ($2.8 billion), down from the same period last year on weaker coal and iron ore prices. It raised its net profit forecast for the year ending in March 2024 by 20 billion yen to 800 billion yen. The company will buy back up to 1.2% of its shares worth 75 billion yen, it added on Monday.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Katya Golubkova, Kim Coghill Organizations: Itochu, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Asia markets set to be mixed ahead of Japan's central bank decision and South Korea inflation this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Buildings are illuminated at night in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, July 21, 2023. Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets are set to fall ahead of a week of key economic data from around the region. Monetary policy decisions from Japan and Malaysia, inflation data from South Korea, and gross domestic growth figures from Taiwan and Hong Kong are the regional highlights of the week. Japan's Nikkei 225 is also set to fall as the Bank of Japan starts its two-day monetary policy meeting, with the futures contract in Chicago at 30,665 and its counterpart in Osaka at 30,650 against the index's last close of 30,991.69 In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1.04%, ahead of September retail sales readings on Monday. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 17,175, pointing to a weaker open compared to the HSI's close of 17,398.73

Persons: Toru Hanai Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Nikkei, Bank of Japan Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Chicago, Osaka, Australia

☆ Nomura quarterly profit doubles on Japanese stock market strength
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nomura's dominant position in Japan, where the stock market is trading at 33-year highs, helped it offset lethargic dealmaking and sluggish trading overseas. July-September profit came in at 35.2 billion yen ($235 million), rebounding from last year when a sharp downturn in global financial markets battered its asset management and investment banking businesses. This year, Japanese firms have been increasingly willing to embark on fundraising - either via equity or debt markets. As a result, Nomura's investment banking business saw a 19% increase in net revenue due to robust equity offerings and active dealmaking in Japan. "Encouraged by the strong stock market, Japanese companies are becoming more proactive in making investments for growth," Chief Financial Officer Takumi Kitamura told a media briefing.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Takumi Kitamura, LSEG, Makiko Yamazaki, Jamie Freed, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Nomura Securities, REUTERS, Rights, Nomura Holdings, U.S . Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ T. Rowe beats profit estimates on higher fee-based income
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of T. Rowe Price Group is pictured at its office in Tokyo, Japan, January 13, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 27 (Reuters) - T. Rowe Price Group (TROW.O) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday, as concerns about the economy somewhat eased from last year, boosting assets under management at the firm. "However, our flows remain pressured, with net outflows from equity outweighing the positive net flows to fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives in this quarter," CEO Rob Sharps said in a statement. Total assets under management at the end of the quarter was $1.35 trillion, up 9.5% over the year earlier. Investment advisory fees were up 1.5% at $1.46 billion in the quarter, T. Rowe said.

Persons: Rowe Price, Toru Hanai, Rob Sharps, Rowe, Sri Hari, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Sri, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Baltimore , Maryland, Bengaluru

☆ Nomura reassesses mainland China business plan as losses mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Nomura Securities is seen at the company's Head Office in Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2016. Nomura's majority-owned joint venture has struggled to grow since its launch in 2019, dragged down by the pandemic and a slowing economy. In 2022, the joint venture lost 225 million yuan ($30.75 million), after losing 84 million yuan in 2021, according to Nomura's filings. Nomura's China joint venture headcount has dropped to 259 from 281 in July, far short of the original target of increasing it to 500 by this year. The joint venture is 51% owned by Nomura, 24.9% by Orient International Holding, and 24.1% by Shanghai Huangpu Investment Holding Group.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Nomura, headcount, Goldman Sachs, Makiko Yamazaki, Selena Li, Sonali Paul Organizations: Nomura Securities, REUTERS, Rights, Nomura Holdings, Bloomberg, Reuters, Citigroup, Nomura Orient International Securities, Nomura, Orient International Holding, Shanghai Huangpu Investment Holding Group, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Asia

Investors stand in front of a screen showing the logo of Nomura Holdings in Tokyo, Japan, December 1, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings (8604.T) has laid off about 10 of its Hong Kong-based investment bankers, including some who were focused on China-related deals, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The Japanese investment bank has seen its China-linked fortunes slipping lately. Its fortunes in regional equity capital markets were boosted by its leading advisory role in March on the $9.24-billion stake sale by Japan Post Holdings (6178.T) in Japan Post Bank Co(7182.T). Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Selena Li in Hong Kong Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Nomura, LSEG, Goldman Sachs, Scott Murdoch, Selena Li, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Nomura Holdings, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Bank Co, Bank of America, Citigroup, UBS, Hong, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Sydney

☆ Japan's factory, service sector activity under pressure in Oct - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity shrank for a fifth straight month in October while the service sector saw its weakest growth this year, a survey showed on Tuesday, amid growing uncertainty over the outlook for the world's third-largest economy. The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) remained flat at 48.5 in October. However, the October PMI data indicated further softening in the service sector, which anchored Japanese economy over recent quarters. The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI fell further to 51.1 in October from 53.8 in September last month, marking the slowest rate of growth since the beginning of this year. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI, which combines both manufacturing and service sector activity, fell to 49.9 in October from 52.1 in September, dropping below into contractionary territory for the first time since December.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Jingyi, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PMI, P Global Market Intelligence, Jibun Bank Flash Japan, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

☆ Japan's Denso, Mitsubishi Electric to invest $1 bln in Coherent's silicon carbide unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of Mitsubishi Electric Corp is pictured at the CEATEC JAPAN 2017 (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, October 2, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - Coherent (COHR.N), a major U.S. supplier of materials used to make chips for the automotive industry, said on Tuesday Japan's Denso (6902.T) and Mitsubishi Electric (6503.T) will invest $1 billion in the company's silicon carbide business. Denso and Mitsubishi Electric will invest $500 million each in exchange for a 12.5% non-controlling ownership interest in Coherent's unit, as per the agreement. The investment would alleviate the financial burden for Coherent, which had explored strategic review of its silicon carbide business in May. Chips made with silicon carbide are used in applications that require massive quantity of power conversion such as inverters and drivetrains in electric vehicles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Denso, Takemi, Priyamvada, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Advanced Technologies, Makuhari, REUTERS, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi, Reuters, Hitachi Ltd, Sumitomo Electric Industries Inc, Thomson Locations: JAPAN, Chiba, Japan, U.S, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, Bengaluru

[1/2] A man walks past a signboard of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and MUFG Bank at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan April 3, 2018. Globally bonds have been heavily sold for weeks - prompting the Bank of Japan to step in to steady the JGB market - as investors reckon on interest rates around the world staying elevated. The lingering concerns, coupled with the prospect of further central bank policy tweaks, are likely to keep investors on guard against buying JGBs," he said. Even if the BOJ raises short-term rates, it will probably have to maintain the YCC framework to avoid any abrupt rise in long-term interest rates, Seki said. The BOJ will have no choice but to engage with long-term rates "because the complete removal of a target band could cause volatility in yield curve and sharp spikes in long-term interest rates," he said.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Hiroyuki Seki, Seki, Makiko Yamazaki, Ritsuko Shimizu, Leika Kihara, Muralikumar Organizations: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, MUFG Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, Bank of Japan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S

☆ UAE's ADNOC awards $17 bln of contracts for gas project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. Italian engineering group MAIRE (MTCM.MI) and energy services group Saipem (SPMI.MI) said in separate statements they had been awarded $8.7 billion and $4.1 billion contracts by ADNOC respectively for the project. MAIRE's onshore EPC contract is worth about $8.74 billion and includes CO2 and sulphur recovery and handling, ADNOC said. The Hail and Ghasha project will capture 1.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of CO2, which would raise ADNOC's committed investments for carbon capture capacity to almost 4 mtpa, the statement said. ADNOC - which in July brought forward its net zero carbon emissions target to 2045 - last week said it aimed to increase its carbon capture capacity to 10 mtpa by 2030.

Persons: Toru Hanai, MAIRE, MTCM.MI, ADNOC, Saipem, Saipem's, Al Kindy, Sultan al, Jaber, Yousef Saba, Clauda, Alberto Chiumento, Jan Harvey, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, National Petroleum Construction Company, Fertiglobe, United Arab Emirates, United, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Rights DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, Saipem, UAE, United Nations, Dubai, Gdansk

REUTERS/Toru Hanai//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Fujitsu (6702.T) and research institute Riken on Thursday announced the successful development of Japan's second quantum computer, as part of research efforts around the world to make the nascent technology practical. The 64 qubit quantum computer from Fujitsu and state-backed Riken will be integrated with a 40 qubit quantum computer simulator, as researchers work to eliminate the errors which prevent such systems from providing accurate results. IBM last year launched a 433 qubit quantum computer. Qubits, or quantum bits, are a measure of the power of quantum computers, which use quantum mechanics. China, the U.S. and allied industrial democracies are in a race to take a lead in advanced technology including quantum computing, with President Joe Biden moving to hamper some U.S. investment in Chinese efforts to develop the technology.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Shintaro Sato, Joe Biden, Sam Nussey, Miho Uranaka, Stephen Coates Organizations: Fujitsu, Advanced Technologies, Makuhari, REUTERS, Rights, IBM, Thomson Locations: CEATEC, JAPAN, Chiba, Japan, China, U.S

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