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☆ Most Japanese firms expect China's economic slowdown to persist into 2025 - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tim Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Of 502 major Japanese companies surveyed by Reuters, 52% said they expected the slowdown in China to continue into 2025, with 17% predicting weaker economic growth to persist until the end of 2024. The value of that cross-border economic activity jumped 14% to 43.8 trillion yen ($294 billion) last year, according to the Japanese government. Japanese companies also operate from more than 31,000 locations in the country. Some 45% of the firms that responded to the survey said the slowdown in China had affected their businesses. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between Sept. 27 and Oct. 6, canvassed 502 big non-financial Japanese firms.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Fumio Kishida, Tim Kelly, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Cargo, Reuters Corporate Survey, Nikkei Research, Thomson Locations: China, Japan TOKYO, Japan

☆ Japan's weak machinery orders, other batch of soft data raise BOJ challenge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | Thomson Reuters | Kantaro Writes About Everything Japan'S Economic Indicators To North Korea'S Missiles To Global Regulation On Ai Companies. His Previous Stories Have Been Published In The Associated Press | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Core orders, the leading indicator of Japanese business spending, were down 1.1% in July from the previous month, the data showed. Orders from manufacturers fell 5.3% in July, the largest decline in eight months, due to weak demand for computers from industries including electric machinery, auto and chemicals. Orders from "core" service-sector firms excluding shipping and electric utilities grew 1.3%. The government maintained its weak view on machinery orders, saying they are "stalling", highlighting the bumpy road ahead for Japanese business and its broader economy. In July, Japan's exports fell for the first time in nearly 2-1/2 years, while the industrial output contracted more than expected.

Persons: Chisato Oshiba, Fumio Kishida, reshuffling, Kantaro Komiya, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: ", Dai, Research, Manufacturers, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, Japan

☆ Feeling the heat: 44% of Japan firms see earnings hit from extreme weather - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( David Dolan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Satoshi Sugiyama/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Some 44% of Japanese companies see extreme weather events around the globe hitting earnings, a Reuters survey showed, highlighting the impact of scorching heat waves and torrential rains on firms in the world's third-largest economy. Disaster-prone Japan is no stranger to extreme weather events, including typhoons, floods and blistering heat. "Infrastructure is likely to be disrupted due to extreme weather conditions, which could result in emergency spending and lower productivity," wrote a manager at a company in the transport sector. The monthly Reuters Corporate Survey of 502 large and medium-sized non-financial Japanese firms, in which 248 responded, showed a majority of non-manufacturers had already felt or expected to feel the effects of extreme weather on their earnings. Flooding has been a particular headache for Japanese companies.

Persons: Satoshi Sugiyama, Japan Inc's, Fumio, David Dolan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Mitsubishi Motor, Rights, Reuters Corporate Survey, Reuters, Nikkei Research, Investment, Thomson Locations: Kurashiki, Japan

☆ Japanese firms want stability rather than change from new BOJ governor: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Tim Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary 52% of firms want the BOJ to help stabilize financial marketsFewer firms want end to BOJ zero rate policyA third of firms want the BOJ to stick with current policies16% of firms want revision to 2% inflation targetTOKYO, April 20 (Reuters) - Most Japanese firms want Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda to focus on financial market stability at his first policy meeting next week, with few seeing benefits from any easing of its ultra-loose monetary policy, a Reuters monthly poll showed. Of nearly 500 major companies polled, 52% said they hoped for financial stability measures, with a third saying Ueda should maintain the policies of his predecessor, Haruhiko Kuroda. Slightly less than a quarter of the Japanese firms surveyed by Reuters said they wanted a revision of the BOJ's negative interest rate policy, down from nearly a half two months ago when Ueda was nominated to his post. Fewer companies also urged the central bank to revise its inflation target, down to 16% from 28% of those polled in February. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between April 5 and April 14, canvassed 493 big non-financial Japanese firms, including 246 manufacturers and 247 non-manufacturers.

☆ Nearly half of Japan firms want BOJ to revise negative rate policy: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The government nominated academic Kazuo Ueda to head the Bank of Japan as the decade tenure of Governor Haruhiko Kuroda nears its close. Among nearly 500 major companies polled, 47% said the BOJ should modify policies that allow interest rates to go negative. Even so, a majority of companies, 62%, said a normalisation of monetary policy would not have a good or bad impact on their business. Asked to rate Kuroda's legacy at the central bank, respondents gave him middling to positive grades, overall. "There are pros and cons," a manager in the electronics industry said about the Kuroda BOJ.

☆ Most big Japanese firms heed prime minister's call to raise wages this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That push was boosted last week when Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing Co (9983.T) said it would raise wages by as much as 40%. Another 29% said they would carry out regular pay increases only, while 38% were undecided. "Prime Minister Kishida has been saying raise wages, raise wages, but the decision to hike pay isn't done on the words of a prime minister or president," said Masayuki Kubota, chief strategist at Rakuten Securities. Smaller firms generally cannot increase pay, business owners, economists and officials say, because they often struggle to pass on higher costs out of fear of losing customers. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between Dec. 23 and Jan. 13, canvassed 495 big non-financial Japanese firms on condition of anonymity, allowing them to speak more freely.

☆ Most Japanese firms don't support PM Kishida, citing leadership, prices: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dissatisfaction among major corporations mirrors public opinion polls showing dwindling support for Kishida amid scandals that have taken down three of his ministers. Among 400 companies polled, 63% of respondents said they did not support the administration. Almost 90% of companies polled said continuing inflation was the biggest risk they faced in 2023, and 68% said it should be a policy focus for the Kishida government. Still, that shows Japanese companies have got used to depreciation of the yen. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2, canvassed 495 big, non-financial Japanese firms on condition of anonymity, allowing them to speak more freely.

☆ Japan companies hold firm on capex plans with focus on tech: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Among 400 companies polled, 52% said digitalisation and information technology would be a focus for capital investment in fiscal 2023, a trend particularly strong among non-manufacturers. It marked an increase from January 2019 when 42% of companies said tech would be an investment focus. The yen plunged to a 32-year low against the dollar last month, making imported inputs more costly. Even so, more than 90% of respondents said the weakening of Japan's currency had not affected their capital spending. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between Oct. 25 and Nov. 4, canvassed 495 big, non-financial Japanese firms on condition of anonymity, allowing them to speak more freely.

☆ Japan's September factory output posts first fall in 4 months
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Factory output fell a seasonally adjusted 1.6% in September from a month earlier, government data showed on Monday, larger than economists' median forecast for a 1.0% decline. It marked the first month-on-month fall in four months in industrial production and followed a 2.7% rise in August. Retail sales rose 4.5% year-on-year in September, extending a rebound since March when the government ended domestic coronavirus curbs. In a seasonally-adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales grew 1.1% in September. A further bounce is expected in coming months after Japan eased border controls on Oct 11 for foreign tourists.

A 12.4% decline in auto-related production - the sector's steepest fall in eight months - drove down the overall index. Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) expected output to fall another 0.4% in October and rise 0.8% in November. "Rather, with rising procurement costs on the weak yen, coupled with (higher) energy prices, some firms have voiced concerns for their business conditions." Separate data showed retail sales rose 4.5% year-on-year in September, extending a rebound since March when the government ended domestic COVID-19 containment measures. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales grew 1.1% in September, rising for a third month.

☆ Japan Inc strongly backs defence spending, many firms near limit on weak yen
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

read moreAmidst those threats and rising geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to "substantially" boost defence spending, which remains under his ruling party's goal of 2% of GDP. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe latest Reuters poll showed that 81% of Japanese companies were in favour of raising defence spending to that level. read moreHalf of firms polled expect the weak yen to hurt profits through the end of January, compared with 29% who expected it would boost earnings. read moreSLUGGISH GROWTHAmong those hurt by the weak yen, 64% said they were coping by raising prices, the most common response. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research, canvassed 495 big, non-financial Japanese firms on condition of anonymity, allowing them to speak more freely.

☆ Japan Inc strongly backs defence spending, many firms near limit on weak yen - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe latest Reuters poll showed that 81% of Japanese companies were in favour of raising defence spending to that level. And in last month's poll, three quarters of firms said they were concerned about a geopolitical crisis around Taiwan. read moreHalf of firms polled expect the weak yen to hurt profits through the end of January, compared with 29% who expected it would boost earnings. read moreSLUGGISH GROWTHAmong those hurt by the weak yen, 64% said they were coping by raising prices, the most common response. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research, canvassed 495 big, non-financial Japanese firms on condition of anonymity, allowing them to speak more freely.

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