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☆ China surprises with modest rate cut amid growing yuan risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was lowered by 10 basis points to 3.45% from 3.55% previously, while the five-year LPR was left at 4.20%. The 10 bp cut in the one-year rate was smaller than the 15 bp cut expected by most poll respondents. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages. The reduction in the one-year LPR came after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) unexpectedly lowered its medium-term policy rate last week. Cheung added that the unexpected rate outcome should be "negative to China growth outlook and the yuan exchange rate".

Persons: Tingshu Wang, LPR, Masayuki Kichikawa, Ken Cheung, Cheung, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Kevin Buckland, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Mizuho Bank, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Shanghai

☆ Analysis: Japan's policymakers hold fire as yen enters intervention range
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But a key factor behind the yen's weakness is unchanged, namely the yawning yield gap with the United States. Yet currency traders remain nervous about provoking intervention, as the yen entered the same zone that triggered heavy dollar selling by Japanese authorities in September and October of last year. For now, traders are testing the waters by selling the yen against sterling and the Swiss franc, mindful that selling against the dollar could gather momentum quickly. From a purely macroeconomic perspective, Kichikawa said, officials have no imperative to prevent yen weakness before 150, which is consistent with the mild inflationary pressure that the BOJ aims to foster. The bond market, which precipitated the yen's slide, may ultimately give Japan's authorities reason to hold off on pressing the intervention button.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, Suzuki, Aaron Hurd, Masayuki Kichikawa, Brent, Kichikawa, Shinichiro Kadota, Kevin Buckland, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Bank of Japan, Finance, State Street Global Advisors, Swiss, Brent, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Treasury, Barclays, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, United States, Tokyo, Boston, Japan

☆ Morgan Stanley and MUFG’s next act is well-timed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and the $94 billion Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (8306.T) are tapping deeper into a good thing at the right time. As well as collaborating on foreign exchange trading, Morgan Stanley and MUFG will now integrate the institutional Japan equities business by consolidating research and institutional sales into Morgan Stanley’s joint venture entity. It’s a bright backdrop for Morgan Stanley and MUFG’s partnership. Follow @ugalani on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSMorgan Stanley and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial on July 18 announced plans to deepen their 15-year alliance, including in foreign exchange trading and in Japanese research and equities businesses for institutional clients. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, MUFG, James Gorman, Ohta, Morgan, isn’t, Morgan Stanley’s, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Wall, Mitsubishi UFJ, MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Jefferies, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, U.S, Japan

☆ Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui launches US digital bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) has launched a digital banking service in the United States, as Japan's number two lender aims to tap growth in the U.S. consumer banking market, a bank executive said on Wednesday. Sumitomo Mitsui is providing personal loans through a newly created online banking division of Manufacturers Bank, a California state-chartered bank wholly owned by the Japanese group. Starting with a 270-strong workforce, the digital banking service targets some tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) in net profit within 10 years, said Daisuke Tanaka, an executive at the bank's corporate development group. "But we eventually want to have a solid presence in the United States." ($1 = 139.5100 yen)Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daisuke Tanaka, Tanaka, Makiko Yamazaki, Robert Birsel Organizations: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui, Manufacturers Bank, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, United States, U.S, California

☆ 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

☆ U.S.-China tensions may be positive for South Korean memory makers, says portfolio manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailU.S.-China tensions may be positive for South Korean memory makers, says portfolio managerStanley Tang of Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management explains why he likes South Korean chipmakers.

Persons: Stanley Tang Organizations: U.S, Sumitomo Mitsui DS, Management Locations: China, Korean

As of end-March, the three banks had total credit exposure of about $64 billion to China, or roughly 1% of their total assets, according to their financial statements. The FSA's request to look into China-related geopolitical risk was made in May, said two other sources. At a meeting last month, one of the banks was asked by the FSA how it is assessing risk related to China operations, one of them said. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Dealing with China sanctions would be extremely complex, the executive added.

Persons: Banks, SMFG, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Takaya Yamaguchi, Makiko Yamazaki, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Financial Services, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho, American Chamber of Commerce, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, TOKYO, Ukraine, Russia, United States, China . U.S, Beijing, West, Taiwan, U.S, Tokyo, New York

☆ Toyota shareholders make 15% the new win-win
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Both Glass Lewis and ISS reckon there aren’t enough properly independent directors on the board, even though Toyota complies with the requirements laid down by the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Yet ISS held back from advising shareholders vote against them because it would risk “increasing management dominance of the board”. Toyota is a laggard on both and is now under pressure to get powerful investors back onside. CONTEXT NEWSMore than 15% of voting shareholders were against reappointing Chairman Akio Toyoda to Toyota Motor’s board at its annual meeting on June 14, the Japanese carmaker said on June 15. About 15% of shareholders who voted supported a resolution asking the company to issue an annual review of its climate lobbying activities.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, Glass Lewis, Glass Lewis plumped, Toyoda, Masahiko Oshima, carmaker, Pete Sweeney, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Toyota, ISS, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Nikkei, California Public, New York, New York City Comptroller, Twitter, Thomson Locations: New York City

TOKYO, June 13 (Reuters) - Toyota (7203.T) faces an unprecedented challenge at its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, with some pension funds voting against Chairman Akio Toyoda on governance issues, while seeking more disclosures on the Japanese automaker's climate lobbying. Two prominent U.S. proxy advisers have flagged concern about Toyota's board independence. The step comes as companies across Japan face more pressure from investors, especially on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The strong financial performance has meant concerns about board independence have largely been shrugged off, said Kazunori Suzuki of Waseda Business School. He enjoys strong support from individual investors and the many suppliers and Toyota group companies among its shareholders.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, Toyoda, Kentaro Shibata, Kazunori Suzuki, Anders Schelde, Denmark's, AkademikerPension, AkademikerPension's Schelde, Nicholas Benes, Benes, that's, Makiko Yamazaki, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, William Mallard, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Toyota, Nikkei, Waseda Business School, Tokyo, Exchange, Services, International Paralympic Committee, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Training, of Japan, Nissan, Honda, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, New York, Japan, Toyota

☆ Toyota governance fight gets stuck in traffic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, May 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Governance campaigns against Japanese companies have a hard enough time gaining traction as it is. ValueAct Capital’s two-year campaign against Seven & i (3382.T) culminated last week with at best just a third of shareholders backing its four board candidates. Glass Lewis asserts just three of Toyota’s 10 board candidates are unaffiliated, fewer than the one-third the advisory sets as a floor. Toyota insists its board meets the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s independence standards. He should go in any event: having the former CEO of 14 years lead the board is bad governance.

May 29 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) owned chip designer Arm on Monday rolled out new technology for mobile devices and Taiwan smartphone chip maker MediaTek Inc (2454.TW) said it will be using it for its next-generation product. In Arm's blog announcing the new products, MediaTek said the new chips will help improve the performance of its next-generation smartphones. "Investors have become extremely sensitive to any news about AI or chip technology and jumped on this Arm news," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management. Last month the Financial Times reported that Arm was developing its own chip to showcase the capabilities of its designs. Arm said the Cortex-X4 was taped out on TSMC's N3E process and said it was an industry first.

☆ Japan's Nikkei hits 1990 high on weak yen, US optimism; SoftBank surges
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Monday to its highest level since July 1990, buoyed by optimism over a U.S. debt ceiling deal and a weaker yen. SoftBank Group jumped more than 8% as shares of Japanese chip-related companies continued to outperform amid the AI euphoria that also propelled Wall Street peers. "The trigger for everything was Nvidia," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management. The broader Topix (.TOPX) rose as much as 1.36% to 2,175.13 in early trading but failed to get close to last week's 33-year high at 2,188.66. Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Sohini GoswamiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) - Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders of Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) vote in favour of a resolution urging the automaker to improve disclosure of its lobbying related to climate change. ISS in a report also said it regarded three of Toyota's four outside board director nominees as not truly independent. Toyota's board said the fluidity of such disclosure made the proposal unsuitable for enshrining in the articles of incorporation. A spokesperson previously said few firms globally have made climate policy engagement-related disclosure to the extent of Toyota. "Toyota does not provide shareholders with enough information to evaluate its lobbying activities," ISS said.

☆ Japanese lender Mizuho to buy Greenhill in $550 mln deal to expand US footprint
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Mizuho Financial Group Inc (8411.T) will acquire independent investment bank Greenhill & Co Inc (GHL.N) in an all-cash transaction, in a bid to expand further into U.S. investment banking. Of Japan's three megabanks, Mizuho has, however, been slower to move than bigger rivals Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T). The Greenhill business will sit within Mizuho's banking division, led by Michal Katz, head of banking in the Americas, the statement said. Greenhill Chairman and CEO Scott L. Bok will become chairman of the M&A and restructuring advisory business, it added. Last year, Mizuho CEO Yoshiro Hamamoto told Reuters that the group's brokerage arm Mizuho Securities Co "has room for further growth" in the United States and acquisitions were an option it was exploring.

There are some signs that the broader $275 billion AT1 market is recovering. Reuters GraphicsLast month, Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) was the first major global bank to sell AT1s since the March rout. With time, analysts expect UBS to sell AT1s aplenty to meet its capital requirements. It has a 700 million Singapore dollar ($755 million) AT1 bond repayable in November followed by a heftier $2.5 billion bond in January. RATINGS GAMEInvestor appetite for a UBS AT1 could also hinge on its future credit profile.

☆ After hitting new heights during the pandemic, PayPal has struggled in the market. Here's what's killing the company's stock growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Juhohn Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While most companies struggled during the pandemic, digital-payment companies including PayPal thrived as consumers were forced to depend more on online transactions. But as pandemic restrictions began to ease, PayPal's stock growth started to fall off. And while PayPal's total payment volume has seen continuous gains, its stock growth has slowed, with rising competition in the digital-payment space being a major contributing factor. "There's a positive and a negative to the fact that PayPal is so focused on e-commerce," said Brett Horn, an analyst at Morningstar. Watch the video to find out more about how Paypal makes its money and why it has been struggling in recent years.

☆ Dollar in defensive mood after jobs data; Fed in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in Chicago on October 18, 2022. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, eased 0.029% to 101.820 after sliding 0.245% on Tuesday. "If the difference in rates between the two regions become clearer, DXY (dollar index) may fall below the 100 mark." The kiwi rose 0.35% versus the greenback to $0.623, while sterling was last trading at $1.2479, up 0.12% on the day. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.11% to 136.40 per dollar, clawing back some of its losses from last week when the Bank of Japan stuck to its ultra-loose monetary policy.

☆ Sumitomo triples down on Jefferies at right time
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, April 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Jun Ohta may have preferred to catch a bigger Wall Street fish. But the CEO of Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) is expanding his relationship with relative minnow Jefferies (JEF.N) at an opportune moment. The $56 billion SMFG also intends to increase its ownership of the $7.6 billion company run by Richard Handler to 15% by purchasing ordinary shares that it will convert into preferred stock. Slumping deal flow after what Jefferies called an “off-the-charts” 2021 prompted its earnings to more than halve last year. SMFG will buy common stock on the open market and then convert it into non-voting preferred stock.

☆ Japan's SMFG boosts U.S. presence via bigger stake in Jefferies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SMBC) said it will combine its U.S. equity and M&A business with Jefferies Financial Group Inc (JEF.N) as part of a deal in which its parent, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T), will boost its stake in the U.S firm and its presence in the country. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) will raise its stake in Jefferies from 4.5% currently to as much as 15%, giving it the right to nominate a member to the U.S. company's board of directors, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday. Its SMBC Nikko Securities unit, formerly Citigroup Inc's (C.N) Japanese broker and a key investment banking unit that SMFG bought in 2009, has a limited footprint abroad. SMFG's bigger domestic rival, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (8306.T), has boosted its U.S. presence through a $9 billion investment in Morgan Stanley (MS.N) in 2008, which gave MUFG some 20% ownership of the Wall Street bank. The Financial Times first reported the news on SMBC and Jefferies.

☆ Japan's SMFG is first global bank to sell AT1 bonds since C.Suisse wipeout
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Junko Fujita | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AT1 bonds - the riskiest tranche of a bank's bonds also known as "contingent convertibles" or "CoCo" bonds - can be converted into equity or written off if a bank's capital level falls below a certain threshold. SMFG sold the bonds in two tranches, in 89 billion yen ($662.50 million) five-year notes, and 51 billion yen 10-year bonds. The 89 billion yen issuance carries a coupon rate of 1.879% for the initial five years and two-month period, a regulatory filing showed. "In Japan, where spreads over corporate bonds are thin, the terms for these AT1 bonds were reasonably good, provided that the banking sector is credible," said Pictet's Otsuki. Japanese banks' AT1 bonds had been configured in a way the value is secured even if the government is involved in restructuring, and SMFG's new issues are seen to have the same features, she said.

☆ SMFG becomes first big Japan bank to sell AT1 bonds since Credit Suisse's debt wipeout
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Junko Fujita | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SMFG priced the bonds in two tranches, in 89 billion yen ($662.50 million) five-year notes, and 51 billion yen 10-year bonds, whose terms market players said were attractive. "In Japan, where spreads over corporate bonds are thin, the terms for these AT1 bonds were reasonably good, provided that the banking sector is credible," said Nana Otsuki, senior fellow at Pictet Japan. Swiss regulator FINMA determined that Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds would be wiped out, a decision that rocked global credit markets. AT1 bonds - known as "contingent convertibles" or "CoCo" bonds - can be converted into equity or written off if a bank's capital level falls below a certain threshold. The 51 billion yen one would yield 2.180% for the first 10 years and two months.

☆ Morning Bid: Crowded bonds unnerved
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

This has some wondering if the recent dash for cash and top-rated bonds has become a bit crowded and how much more tightening central banks have to do. As we move into the weeds of the first-quarter U.S. earnings season, it's been a mixed bag so far. That clearly unnerved UK government bonds - where 10 year yields jumped 10bps - but it also jarred sovereign bonds around the world. Elsewhere, further signs of healing were evident in the global bank funding market. Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) sold $1 billion of additional tier-1 debt, the first major global bank to sell the risky securities since similar bonds issued by Credit Suisse were wiped out last month.

☆ Japan approves Osaka as site of country's first casino
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The spinning wheel on a roulette table is seen at Japan Casino School in Tokyo, Japan August 4, 2018. Put forth by the city and Osaka prefecture, the project aims to open a casino, conference centre and other facilities in 2029 with 1.8 trillion yen ($13.5 billion) of initial investment. MUFG Bank (8306.T) and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (8316.T) will provide 550 billion yen in project financing for the resort, the document showed. The national government's decision came after the pro-casino Japan Innovation Party retained both the office of prefectural governor and city mayor in Osaka on Sunday. Japan's casino plans have faced a number of obstacles such as the coronavirus pandemic and a bribery scandal.

☆ Japan approves $13.5 bln Osaka resort, country's first casino
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The spinning wheel on a roulette table is seen at Japan Casino School in Tokyo, Japan August 4, 2018. U.S. casino operator MGM Resorts International (MGM.N) and local partner Orix Corp (8591.T) have spearheaded the Osaka IR project, with each owning a 40% stake in the company set up to manage the complex. The national government's decision came after the pro-casino Japan Innovation Party retained the prefectural governor and city mayor offices in Osaka on Sunday. Major casino operators Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS.N), Caesars Entertainment Corp and Wynn Resorts Ltd (WYNN.O) withdrew from planned projects. The government on Friday said it would need more time to review the Nagasaki plan, led by Casinos Austria International.

TOKYO, April 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T) on Monday said that it and other shareholders of the Monsoon wind power project in Laos have raised $692 million in financing for the wind farm. Mitsubishi, Thai renewable energy firm BCPG Pcl, and other stakeholders secured the financing package from the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and other lenders, the Japanese firm said. The project, which is set to sell power to Vietnam under a 25-year deal, will have 600 megawatts of installed capacity and should be launched in 2025. Its total costs stand at $950 million, according to Monsoon's website. Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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