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☆ Analysis: Middle East throws central banks yet more unknowns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Now, to complicate matters for a professional caste which prides itself on being data-driven, the Middle East is throwing a new set of real but unquantifiable risks into their equations. Unless the picture changes dramatically in coming days, the European Central Bank, U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Bank of Japan are already expected to keep their policy rates on hold in meetings over the next two weeks. ECB rate-setter Yannis Stournaras, the governor of the Greek central bank, argued that Europe had broadly managed to absorb the effects of rising energy costs triggered by the Ukraine war and hoped it could do the same if further shocks emerged. For now, the conflict remains largely confined to Israel and Gaza, something S&P Global Market Intelligence said in a study this week was already "muddying the waters" for central banks. As the Fed's Powell put it: "Our institutional role at the Federal Reserve is to monitor these developments for their economic implications, which remain highly uncertain".

Persons: Jerome Powell, David Westin, Brendan McDermid, Powell, Huw Pill, Yannis Stournaras, Tetsuya Hiroshima, Fed's Powell, Dan Burns, Balazs Koranyi, Francesco Canepa, Maria Martinez, Leika, Kevin Yao, David Milliken, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Federal, Anchor, Bloomberg, Street, Economic, of New, REUTERS, Bank of England, International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, U.S, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Fed, ECB, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, Tokai, Toyota Motor Corp, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: of New York, New York City, U.S, Israel, Ukraine, Iran, Hormuz, Europe, United States, Japan, Gaza, Washington, Frankfurt, Berlin, Tokyo, Beijing, London

☆ Toyota to restart Japan production on Wednesday after system failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummaryCompanies Toyota suspends production at all 14 domestic assembly plantsSystem failure preventing Toyota from ordering partsCause under investigation, not likely to be a cyberattackPlants make up third of Toyota world output -Reuters calculationStock closes down 0.2%TOKYO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor (7203.T) will restart operations at its assembly plants in Japan on Wednesday, after a production system malfunction brought domestic output to a halt at the world's biggest-selling automaker. The plants together account for about a third of the automaker's global production, Reuters calculations showed. Toyota's domestic production had been on the rebound after a series of output cuts it blamed on semiconductor shortages. Its Japan output averaged about 13,500 vehicles daily in the first half of the year, Reuters calculations showed. Toyota is a pioneer of just-in-time inventory management, which keeps down costs but means supply chain snarls put production at risk.

Persons: Seiji Sugiura, Satoshi Sugiyama, Miyoung Kim, Kevin Krolicki, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, Christopher Cushing, Mark Potter Organizations: Toyota, Daihatsu, Hino, Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Analysts, Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, Toyota Industries, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, , Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, China

☆ Typhoon Lan makes landfall in western Japan, threatens damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Approaching from the Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Lan made landfall at the southern tip of Wakayama prefecture, some 400 km (250 miles) southwest of Tokyo. The typhoon, which followed closely on the heels of Typhoon Khanun during Japan's peak Obon holiday season, lashed wide swathes of central and western Japan with heavy rains and powerful winds. Anticipating the dangerous levels of winds and rains a day earlier, high-speed train operators had also planned suspensions of services affecting the area. Typhoon Lan had sustained winds of 150 kph (93 mph) and was moving northwest across the western part of the main island of Honshu as of 0000 GMT. It was forecast to reach the Sea of Japan by early Wednesday and continue north along the sea, according to Japan's weather agency.

Persons: Typhoon Lan, Khanun, Chang, Kim, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Toyota Motor Corp, NHK, Toyota Motor, Thomson Locations: Japan, Wakayama prefecture, Tokyo, Mie, Osaka, Tokai, Typhoon, Honshu

☆ Japan braces for Typhoon Khanun's winds and heavy rainfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

City skyline and harbour are seen at sunrise in Tokyo, Japan July 24, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File PhotoTOKYO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - A swath of Japanese regions, including central areas, are bracing for Typhoon Khanun to approach near southwestern Japan on Tuesday, as the country's meteorological agency warns of damage from strong winds and heavy rainfall. The storm was hovering about 160 kilometres (99 miles) east-northeast of the city of Amami in southwestern Japan and moving slowly north as of 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. Khanun has gradually lost its strength but still packs winds of 108 kph (67 mph), with gusts of up to 144 kph. "Due to the slow movement of the typhoon and its prolonged impact, total rainfall may greatly exceed the normal monthly rainfall for August in the Pacific Ocean side of Kyushu and western Japan, and in the Tokai region," the JMA said.

Persons: Maxim, Khanun, Satoshi Sugiyama, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Japan Meteorological Agency, JMA, Mazda Motor Corp, West Japan Railway Co, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Amami, Japan's Nagasaki, Khanun, South Korea, Shikoku, Kyushu, Western Japan, Tokai, Hakata, Osaka, Nagasaki

☆ Meandering Typhoon Khanun targets Japan again amid record heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view of a damaged car and a fallen tree after the heavy rain and strong winds brought by Typhoon Khanun in Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan August 2, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Highlighting increased abnormal weather blamed on climate change, temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) in the city of Date in Fukushima prefecture, the highest this year in Japan. Khanun, which has killed three people and injured more than 70 in Okinawa prefecture, was about 100 km (60 miles) west of Kagoshima prefecture Tokuno Island at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT). Footage on public broadcaster NHK showed a dozens of cars submerged and houses flooded in Naha, Okinawa's capital. Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Typhoon Khanun, Khanun, Tetsushi Kajimoto, William Mallard Organizations: Meteorological Agency, JMA, Authorities, NHK, Thomson Locations: Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, Okinawa, Date, Fukushima prefecture, Okinawa prefecture, Kagoshima, Tokuno, Shikoku, Amami, Kyushu, Naha, Okinawa's, Kinki, Tokai

☆ Toyota revamps iconic Land Cruiser with hybrid version
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Toyota Motor Corp.'s new Land Cruiser is pictured at its unveiling event in Tokyo, Japan August 2, 2023, in this photo taken by Kyodo via REUTERSCompanies Toyota Motor Corp FollowTOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Toyota (7203.T) on Wednesday unveiled the first hybrid version of its Land Cruiser that it will bring to North America and other key markets as it seeks to put a high-margin and iconic sports utility vehicle back on the map. Land Cruiser models are relatively big cars that come with a higher profitability for Toyota, just as is the case for some other models such as its Alphard van, said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. The new Land Cruiser will become available in Japan in the first half of 2024, and come to the United States in the spring of that year, Toyota said, adding that suggested retail pricing in the United States will start in the mid-$50,000 range. Toyota said it will offer gasoline and diesel-powered versions of the new Land Cruiser in markets such as Western and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and also bring a smaller Land Cruiser version to Japan in the winter. The Land Cruiser and the Lexus LX and GX, which are luxury SUVs, have together sold 11.3 million units as of the end of last month, Toyota said.

Persons: Hiroki Nakajima, Seiji Sugiura, Sugiura, Daniel Leussink, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Toyota Motor Corp, Kyodo, REUTERS Companies Toyota Motor Corp, Toyota, Wednesday, Cruiser, North, Cruisers, Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, Lexus, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, North America, United States, Eastern Europe

[1/5] Customers stand next to a counter at a Starbucks' outlet at a market in New Delhi, India, May 30, 2023. Starbucks plans to open more stores in smaller towns, said an industry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Soon after Starbucks' May launch of $3.33 milkshakes, designed to attract children, Third Wave launched its own range, a fifth cheaper at $2.71. He saw Starbucks' cheaper, small-sized drinks as a response to competition in "an incredibly price-sensitive market". "Going deeper into smaller cities, beyond the metros, is the only way to grow," said Ankur Bisen, head of retail at India's Technopak Advisors.

Persons: Sushant Dash, Tim Hortons, Devangshu Dutta, We've, chai, Chas Hermann, Sushant Goel, Matt Chitharanjan, Dash, Ankur Bisen, Sriram, Aditya Kalra, Anushree Fadnavis, Varun Vyas, Euan Rocha, Miyoung Kim, Sophie Yu, Hilary Russ, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, MUMBAI, Blue, Starbucks, Tata Group, BET, CHAI, Wave, Third, Reuters, Blue Tokai, India's Technopak, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, American, DELHI, U.S, Blue Tokai, China, Singapore, United States, Bengaluru, Delhi, Aurangabad, Beijing, New York

TOKYO, June 6 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei index extended its climb to scale a near 33-year high on Tuesday, with trading houses and Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing leading the gains on technical support for heavyweight shares ahead of the fixing of special quotation prices. The Nikkei (.N225) recouped from early losses to close nearly 1% higher at 32,506.78. Shares of Fast Retailing (9983.T) climbed 1.73%, contributing the most to the Nikkei's advance, while trading company Mitsui & Co (8031.T) jumped 3.86%. Trading houses (.IWHOL.T) and mining companies (.IMING.T) led gains among the 33 industry sub-indexes on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, rising 2.5%. read moreReporting by Rocky Swift and Nobuyo Saito in Tokyo; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: speculatively, Takashi Nakamura, Mio Kato, Nitto Denko, Rocky Swift, Nobuyo Saito, Rashmi Aich, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Nikkei, Tokai Tokyo Research, Retailing, Mitsui & Co, Mizuho Financial Group, LightStream, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Apple, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Japan's chip equipment makers in the dark about new China export restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Japanese makers of semiconductor manufacturing machinery and materials used to make chips said on Monday they had yet to hear from Japan's government about export restrictions that could directly or indirectly affect their business in China. Without knowing the details of any new restrictions it is impossible to know their impact, he said. Its statement followed a Bloomberg report that the United States had secured a deal with the Netherlands and Japan. Among them was Tokyo Electron Ltd (8035.T), Japan's biggest semiconductor manufacturing machinery maker. Shares of Japanese semiconductor equipment makers were mostly flat on Monday, with Tokyo Electron up 0.68% while Advantest Corp (6857.T) fell 0.32%.

☆ Toyota says quarterly output up 30%, but parts shortages continue
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Satoshi Sugiyama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp on Friday said global production climbed 30% in the quarter ended in September, but warned the shortages of semiconductors and other parts that have roiled the auto industry would still constrain output in coming months. In the July to September quarter, global sales were up 4%, according to a Reuters calculation based on the company's disclosures. The announcement came a week after Toyota said it was unlikely to meet its 9.7 million vehicle production goal for this financial year due to a scarcity of chips. The spokesperson declined to comment on a new production target. Shortages of semiconductors have hit Toyota's production in Japan harder than its overseas factories, Toyota said.

The talks, which could prompt the biggest reset in the alliance since the 2018 arrest of longtime executive Carlos Ghosn, have included consideration of Renault selling some of its Nissan stake, two people with knowledge of them said. Renault and Nissan said in a joint statement that they were "engaged in trustful discussions around several initiatives" including a potential Nissan investment in the EV venture and what they called "structural improvements" in their alliance. In exchange for investing in the EV venture, Nissan is looking to Renault to reduce its stake in the Japanese automaker, a person familiar with the talks said. Nissan may consider raising funds to buy back the shares held by Renault, one person told Reuters. Nissan may need to raise funds to buy the shares back from Renault, the source added.

A man walks on the street in heavy rain and wind caused by Typhoon Nanmadol in Kagoshima on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu September 18, 2022, in this photo taken by Kyodo. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPANTOKYO, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Typhoon Nanmadol brought ferocious winds and record rainfall to western Japan on Monday as one of the biggest storms to hit the country in years killed at least two people, disrupted transport and forced manufacturers to suspend operations. "We need to remain highly vigilant for heavy rains, gales, high waves and storm surges," a Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official told a news conference. Up to 400 mm (15.75 inches) of rain was expected in central Japan's Tokai region, the nation's industrial heartland, over the next 24 hours, it said. Intermittent bouts of heavy rain lashed Tokyo but businesses in the capital were largely operating as normal.

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