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☆ Weak yen forces Japan to shrink historic military spending plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Since the plan was unveiled in December, the yen has lost 10% of its value against the dollar, forcing Tokyo to reduce its ambitious defense procurement plan, which was then-calculated to cost $320 billion, the sources said. Details of how Japan is paring back military procurement due to currency fluctuations have not been previously reported. China, which has not ruled out using military force to bring Taiwan under its control, has expressed concern about Japan's military spending plans, accusing it of displaying a "Cold War mentality." Chinooks and seaplanesWith the cuts in its spending power, Japan decided to prioritize spending on advanced U.S.-made frontline weapons such as missiles that could halt advancing Chinese forces, the eight people said. About half that increase was due to the weak yen, said one of the government sources, who was directly involved in those discussions.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kiyoshi Ota, Christopher Johnstone, Johnstone, Biden, Kishida, spender, Nancy Pelosi's, Yoji Koda Organizations: Japan's, Defense Force, Getty, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security, East, Japan's Ministry of Defense, Embassy, Pentagon, Russian, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Boeing Co, Kawasaki, ShinMaywa Industries, Industry, Maritime Self Defense Force Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Japan, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, East Asia, U.S, East China, Ukraine, China

Details of how Japan is paring back military procurement due to currency fluctuations have not been previously reported. China, which has not ruled out using military force to bring Taiwan under its control, has expressed concern about Japan's military spending plans, accusing it of displaying a "Cold War mentality." In December, defence ministry officials discussed an order for 34 twin-rotor Chinook transport helicopters at roughly 15 billion yen per aircraft, two of the sources said. She declined to comment on whether the defence ministry had dropped an order for the seaplane. A ministry spokesperson confirmed the companies delivered a letter on Oct 25 to Defence Minister Minoru Kihara urging the government to proceed with the defence procurement as planned.

Persons: Tomohiro, Fumio Kishida, Christopher Johnstone, Johnstone, Biden, Kishida, outlays, spender, Nancy Pelosi's, Yoji Koda, Lockheed Martin, Minoru Kihara, Kevin Maher, Nobuhiro Kubo, Takaya Yamaguchi, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Katerina Ang Organizations: Defense Force, East Fuji Maneuver, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security, East, Japan's Ministry of Defence, Embassy, Pentagon, Russian, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Boeing Co, Kawasaki, Industries, Maritime Self Defense Force, Raytheon, Lockheed, Japan Business Federation, NMV Consulting, U.S . State Department's Office, Japan Affairs, Thomson Locations: Japan, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Taiwan, Tokyo, Washington, Beijing, East Asia, U.S, East China, Ukraine, China, U.S .

December Brent crude futures , set to expire on Tuesday, rose 36 cents, or 0.41%, to stand at $87.81 a barrel by 0305 GMT. "If this evolves into a full-scale invasion and there is involvement from Iran, tighter supply worries could resurface." In a note, ING analysts said, "Disruptions to Iranian oil flows remain the most obvious risk to the market." Such lost supply could range between 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) and 1 million bpd if the United States strictly enforces sanctions once again, they added, although Middle East developments had yet to affect oil supply. Weaker-than-expected manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity data from China stoked fears of slowing fuel demand from the world's No.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Brent, Leon Li, China stoked, CME's, Laura Sanicola, Trixie Yap, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, . West Texas, Federal Reserve, Markets, ING, U.S, Thomson Locations: Nice, France, China, Wednesday's U.S, Gaza, Iran, Shanghai, Israel, United States, Venezuela, riven

The yield on the 10-year Treasury notes climbed to 4.23%, while two-year yield rose to 4.928% in the run-up to more economic data this week. "The recession is definitely delayed within the United States ... we are seeing fairly weak economic environments in both China and Europe." U.S. economic data since the Fed's July meeting has added to the impression the economy is cooling without cracking, likely bolstering the case against further interest rate increases. All three main U.S. stock indexes logged gains in the previous week after data pointed to a softening labor market. The S&P index recorded eight new 52-week highs and 13 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 27 new highs and 63 new lows.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Blackstone, China stoked, Jason Pride, Alibaba, Goldman Sachs, advancers, Shristi Achar, Arun Koyyur, Shounak Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, China, Dow, Nasdaq, Apple, PDD Holdings, Baidu, Labor, Traders, Dow Jones, Blackstone, NYSE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Bengaluru

☆ European shares slip as China data sparks disinflation concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 10 (Reuters) - European shares slipped on Monday after logging big weekly losses as weak inflation numbers from China stoked concerns about sluggish demand, while investors awaited U.S. inflation data as well as corporate earnings due later this week. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) dipped 0.3% by 0720 GMT, with China-exposed miners (.SXPP) and automakers (.SXAP) leading the losses. The benchmark STOXX 600 posted its worst week in almost four months on Friday after hawkish messages from central bank policymakers and resilient U.S. economic data fuelled concerns that interest rates will remain elevated for longer. Kering (PRTP.PA) slipped 0.3% after the Financial Times reported that the owner of Gucci paid 3.5 billion euros ($3.83 billion) for acquiring high-end French fragrance label Creed in June. Reporting by Matteo Allievi in Gdansk and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gucci, Matteo Allievi, Sruthi Shankar, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Bayer, Financial Times, Thomson Locations: China, Gdansk, Bengaluru

☆ Stocks firmer after dip in euro zone inflation, dollar firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, June 29, 2023. REUTERS/StaffLONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Global shares stocks were firmer on Friday after data showed that inflation in the euro zone continued to fall this month, and attention turned to U.S. prices figures before the opening bell on Wall Streeet. The dollar and U.S. stock index futures , were firm ahead of the U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index reading due at 1230 GMT, the Fed's favoured inflation gauge. Euro zone inflation fell to 5.5% in June as the cost of fuel tumbled, with Germany the only country to report an increase, with the European Central Bank still on course for a ninth consecutive rate hike next month, sending euro zone government bond yields higher.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Patrick Spencer, Baird, Spencer, Shunichi Suzuki, Rob Carnell, Hong, Brent, Gold, Huw Jones, Ankur Banerjee, Stephen Coates, Kim Coghill, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Staff LONDON, Global, U.S, Federal, European Central Bank, ECB, ING, Big Tech, Finance, Nikkei, Strong U.S, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S, Europe, CHINA, Asia, China, Pacific, Japan, Shanghai, Strong

☆ Asia shares steady as weak China data fuel stimulus hopes, yen frail
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Futures indicated European stocks were set for a higher open, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.18%, German DAX futures up 0.24% and FTSE futures 0.28% higher. But before that euro zone June inflation data will likely provide cues to the broader picture in the region, after data on Thursday showed German inflation rose more than expected in June. The strong economic data sent Treasury yields higher, with the yield on 10-year Treasury notes touching a three-month high of 3.868% on Thursday. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index (.CSI300) and the Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC) rose nearly 1%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (.HSI) was up 0.24% on stimulus hopes. U.S. crude was flat at $69.87 per barrel and Brent was at $74.49, up 0.2% on the day.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, DAX, Rob Carnell, Jerome Powell, Hong, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Stephen Coates, Kim Coghill Organizations: Federal Reserve, Finance, Investors, U.S, Reuters, Union, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, China, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Spain, Italy, U.S, Shanghai

SummarySummary Companies Britain's house prices show weak rise in AprilBunelm gains on Stifel upgradeMedica Group surges on buyout dealFTSE 100 down 0.2%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%April 24 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 fell on Monday as energy stocks and base metal miners lost ground on weak demand outlook, while caution set in ahead of a busy week of earnings. Oil giants BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) lost 0.9% and 1.2%, respectively, as crude prices fell more than 1% on concerns about rising interest rates, global economic slowdown and fuel demand outlook. The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.2%, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) was up 0.2%, as of 0821 GMT. Growth companies, including Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), Google parent Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), are scheduled to report their earnings this week. The FTSE 100 logged its fifth consecutive weekly rise on Friday, marking its longest streak of weekly gains in more than a year, buoyed by commodity stocks, even as weak global economic growth outlook keeps investor sentiment subdued.

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., December 7, 2022. The dollar, a beneficiary of rising U.S. interest rates, was down slightly on Friday but on track for a 2022 gain of 8%, its biggest annual percentage increase since 2015. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose on the day and was poised to close out the trading year with its biggest annual increase in decades, pushed higher by aggressive Fed rate hikes. In stocks, battered growth stocks and Nasdaq leading declines dragged Wall Street's main indexes lower. The dollar index fell 0.173%, with the euro up 0.12% to $1.0674.

The dollar, a beneficiary of rising U.S. interest rates, was on track for its best annual performance in seven years. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six major currencies, fell 0.4% to a two-week low. Sterling was set for its worst performance against the dollar since 2016, when Britain voted to leave the European Union. U.S. Treasuries and German bonds, the benchmarks of global borrowing markets, lost 16% and 24% respectively in dollar terms this year as rates rose. Ten-year German Bund yields rose 4 bps to 2.51% and two-year yields hit their highest since 2008 after data showing Spanish core inflation rose in December.

"While we have been cautious, there is an important shift going on with the COVID reopening." The protests were the strongest public defiance during Xi's political career, China analysts said. If protests were to continue, this would add to the risk premium, said Sean Taylor, chief investment officer for Asia-Pacific at DWS Group. Social discontent stemming from the zero-COVID policy added to risks in executing and implementing government policies, said Mark Haefele, global wealth management CIO at UBS in Zurich. We also view China’s sluggish recovery as a risk for the global economy and markets."

Nov 29 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. The social unrest flaring up across China - and how Beijing responds to it - remains front and center for Asian markets, suggesting the sentiment driving trading on Tuesday will again be negative. Let's start with China, where the protests against strict zero-COVID policy and restrictions on freedoms are spreading. A little more surprising, however, given the scale of the unrest, is that the declines have been contained and orderly. If anyone was in any doubt, the hawks at the big central banks are not backing down.

☆ Dollar rises broadly, yuan slumps as China's COVID unrest rattles sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The dollar gained broadly on Monday as protests against COVID restrictions in China stoked uncertainty and dented sentiment, sending the yuan sliding and pushing nervous investors toward the safe-haven greenback. Against the offshore yuan , the dollar rose 0.76% in early Asia trade to 7.2456. The Aussie , which is often used as a liquid proxy for the yuan, fell 0.61% to $0.6714, while the kiwi slumped 0.5% to $0.6216. "Companies are currently facing weaker retail sales from a higher number of COVID cases and falling home prices from unfinished home projects." Against a basket of currencies, the U.S. dollar index was down 0.08% at 106.25, but off its recent three-month low of 105.30.

Nov 29 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. The social unrest flaring up across China - and how Beijing responds to it - remains front and center for Asian markets, suggesting the sentiment driving trading on Tuesday will again be negative. Let's start with China, where the protests against strict zero-COVID policy and restrictions on freedoms are spreading. A little more surprising, however, given the scale of the unrest, is that the declines have been contained and orderly. Does the unrest accelerate a re-opening of the economy, or does it prompt President Xi Jingping to double down?

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