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☆ Japanese billionaire Maezawa cancels moon flyby mission
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa cancelled his "dearMoon" mission, which the project said would have been the first private flight around the moon, the mission announced on Saturday. "It's a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch," Maezawa said. Elon Musk's SpaceX named Maezawa, the colourful founder of Japanese online fashion store Zozo Inc, its first private passenger in 2018. Three years later he was the first private passenger to visit the International Space Station in more than a decade, launching on a Soyuz rocket. In November he said the flyby mission would be delayed until this year or later.

Persons: Yusaku Maezawa, Maezawa, Elon, Steve Aoki Organizations: SpaceX, Inc, Space, Soyuz

New Japanese 1000 Yen banknote on display inside the Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan's Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies. Data from Japan's Ministry of Finance on Friday confirmed the country's first currency intervention since 2022, after the yen plunged to a 34-year-low in April. The ministry on Friday stated Japan spent 9.7885 trillion yen ($62.25 billion) on currency intervention between April 26 and May 29, according to a Google-translated statement. Japan last intervened to stabilize the currency in October 2022, when the yen fell to lows of around 152 per dollar. Authorities intervened three times that year to stabilize the currency, reportedly spending as much as a combined 9.2 trillion yen over the period.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, Suzuki, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Currency Museum, Bank of Japan's Institute for Monetary, Economic Studies, Japan's Ministry of Finance, U.S, Bank of America Global Research, Bank of Japan, Japanese Finance, Authorities Locations: Japan, London

☆ Donn Delson on documenting the world from 12,000 feet
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —“This is not daredevil stuff,” says 75-year-old fine art photographer Donn Delson as we sit in a helicopter with no door, almost 2,000 feet above London. Donn DelsonDelson, who is based in Los Angeles, began his career as an aerial photographer almost a decade ago. On a trip flying 3,200 feet over Molokai, Hawaii, Delson was captured inside a rare double circular rainbow. Courtesy Donn DelsonEven if he returns empty-handed, Delson believes there is more to be gained from the experience than simply making new work. “The world from above, it’s just so different from the world we know,” said Delson.

Persons: ”, Donn Delson, Ben, Delson —, It’s, we’re, —, Donn Delson Delson, “ I’ve, ” Delson, BandMerch, Rihanna, Billy Joel, — Delson, Delson, Donn Delson “, “, “ I’m Organizations: London CNN, CNN Locations: London, Los Angeles, Japan, Molokai, Hawaii, New Zealand, ”, Delson, Israel

☆ Japan is determined to keep hunting whales. And now it has a brand new ‘mothership’ to do that
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Heather Chen | Hanako Montgomery | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Demand for whale meat in JapanOver the years, Kyodo Senpaku has launched aggressive public relation campaigns to promote whale meat and win over new generations of young diners. We would react very badly to that.”The owner of a whale meat shop shows a block of whale meat at the Karato fish market in Shimonoseki city. Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty ImagesThis picture taken on May 20, 2024 shows whale meat sashimi at a 'Nisshinmaru' whale meat restaurant in Shimonoseki city, Yamaguchi prefecture. Located in deep waters surrounding the entire continent of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary hosts dozens of whale species including humpbacks, blue whales and fin whales. “It’s called the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary for a reason – you don’t kill whales there,” Watson said.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, Hideki Tokoro, ”, ” Tokoro, Hideko Tokoro, Hanako Montgomery, Paul Watson, “, Daisuke Urakami, Ari Friedlaender, Sutton Hibbert, Shutterstock, ” Donald Rothwell, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Francois Gohier, ” WCA, Tokoro, Nobuhiro Kishigami, ” Kishigami, “ It’s, Yuichi Yamazaki, Mitsuhiro Kishimoto, Juan Barreto, Takaaki Sakamoto, Captain Paul Watson, aren’t, James Anderson, ” Rothwell, Watson, CNN he’s, ” Watson Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Kyodo, CNN, Yomiuri Shimbun, “, International Whaling Commission, IWC, International Convention, Whaling, Australian National University, ANU, Cetacean, Kyodo Senpaku, South Korea –, National Museum of Ethnology, Getty, Shimonoseki City University, Whale, Whaling Affairs, Japan’s Fisheries Agency, Captain Paul Watson Foundation, Whale Defense Agency Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kangei, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Nisshin, Gulf of Maine, North, Russia, Thailand, South, Osaka, Shimonoseki, AFP, Yamaguchi, Gerlache, Antarctica, …

☆ Photos Show Strength of Asian American Activism Throughout US History
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Momo Takahashi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The term "Asian American" was first coined in 1968 amid the rising voices of the Third World Liberation Front student movements in California. With tensions from protests against the Vietnam War and calls for universities to invest in ethnic studies programs, the Asian American identity was born out of advocacy for multiethnic unity among the Asian diaspora. Historical photographs showcase the history of Asian American resistance movements from the 1960s to the 1980s, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the Asian American community among tenants, students, and laborers. For the next five years, Filipino and Mexican American workers continued to strike for economic justice for all farm workers. AdvertisementThe same year, Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee, both graduate students and key organizers of the Asian American Political Alliance, coined the term "Asian American."

Persons: Delano, Cesar Chevez's Huelga, Julio Hernandez, Larry Itliong, Cesar Chavez, Gerald French, Chavez, Ted Streshinsky, Slava J, Garth Eliassen, Yuji Ichioka, Emma Gee, Dave Randolph, Sheriff Richard Hongisto, Terry Schmitt, Emil de Guzman, May Chen, Walter Leporati, Chol Soo Lee, Yip Yee Tak, Lee, John O'Hara, Chol, Lee's, Jerry Telfer, Vincent Chin, Vincent, Lily Chin, Detroit . Chin, Ronald Ebens, Michael Nitz, Ebens, Helen Zia, Victor Yang, Chin, Chin's Organizations: Liberation, Business, American, Agricultural Labor, Committee, Delano, Getty, Labor, National Farm Workers Association, United Farm Workers, Migratory Labor, National Farm Workers, University of California, University of California Regents, Black Student Union, UC Berkeley, Asian American Political Alliance, San Francisco State University, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, . Police, Chinatown Community Development Center, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Images Garment Worker, Ladies Garment Workers Union, International Ladies Garment Workers Union, San, Korean American Journalists Association, Asian, Lee Defense, Hall of Justice, The, American Citizens, Justice, Department of Justice, FBI Locations: California, Vietnam, Asia, San Francisco, Mexican, Bakersfield , California, Spanish, Washington, Delano, Sacramento, American, Berkeley, Berkeley , California, Africa, America, San, Los Angeles, Kearny, New York, Chinatown, Columbus, councilmen, San Quentin, Detroit ., Detroit

☆ Dollar ascendant as surging U.S. yields spur demand for safe havens
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. one hundred dollar bills are being shown in this picture illustration taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 15, 2023. The dollar soared to a two-week high against its major peers on Thursday, as a rout in Treasuries improved the currency's allure due to both higher U.S. yields and demand for safe haven assets. The bond market rout has spooked investors, with equities globally sliding sharply this week, spurring a rush to the safest assets. The yen , however, climbed off a four-week low of 157.715 per dollar from overnight to last trade at 157.505. "The bond market bogey is well-positioned to wrest deeper control of the broader market, particularly if upcoming growth and inflation data are on the firmer side of the ledger."

Persons: Tony Sycamore Organizations: Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan, Reserve, IG Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Treasuries, U.S

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Musk's artificial intelligence start-up raises $6 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Nvidia's stock rose 2.6% on Friday, contributing to a 15% surge for the week, while the Nasdaq led major indexes with a 1.41% weekly gain. Nvidia CEO's net worth soarsNvidia CEO Jensen Huang's net worth soared to over $90 billion as better-than-expected earnings sent the company's stock soaring to a record high. Last Thursday, the stock rose more than 9% to close at nearly $1,038 per share.

Persons: Elon Musk, The Beverly Hilton, Jensen, Huang, Glass Lewis, Obama, Weizhen Tan Organizations: SpaceX, Tesla, The Beverly, CNBC, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Treasury, Nvidia, Investors, Google, Nikkei, Bank of Japan's, CSI Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Texas, Asia, Pacific

☆ Dollar ebbs as markets await key global inflation reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this photo illustration, a person is seen holding 100, 50, and 5 U.S. dollar bills in his hand. The dollar waned on Tuesday following a slight pick up in risk appetite, but it held tight ranges against its peers ahead of key inflation data from major economies this week that markets are looking to for guidance on the global interest rate outlook. The euro was a touch firmer at $1.0860 despite some dovish comments from European Central Bank policymakers on Monday and data showing German business morale stagnated in May. Down Under, the Aussie edged 0.03% higher to $0.6657, with the country's monthly consumer price index data also due on Wednesday. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Monday the central bank will proceed cautiously with inflation-targeting frameworks, noting that some challenges are "uniquely difficult" for Japan after years of ultra-easy monetary policy.

Persons: Rodrigo Catril, Sterling, NAB's, Kazuo Ueda, bitcoin Organizations: U.S, European Central Bank, ECB, National Australia Bank, New Zealand, Down, Bank of Japan Locations: Asia, Britain, United States, U.S, Tokyo, Japan

☆ How the world got into $315 trillion of debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In 2024, global gross domestic product — or GDP — amounted to $109.5 trillion dollars — slightly over a third of that global debt number. So, with global debt at a record high, should you be concerned? The first debt wave originated from Latin America in the 1980s, which led 16 countries in that region to restructure their borrowings. Global debt rose to 256 percent of GDP in 2020, a 28-percentage point increase - and the biggest one-year debt rise since the Second World War. The fourth wave has been the biggest, fastest and most wide-ranging rise in debt we've seen since World War II.

Persons: we've Organizations: World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Locations: Prussian, Civil, United States, America, Asia, U.S, Europe, Zambia, Japan, China, India, Mexico

☆ Video: CNN speaks with victim of Japan ‘host club’ romance scam
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Ak Pohlers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ China, Japan and South Korea Hold Regional Summit Overshadowed by U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The leaders of South Korea and Japan on Monday sought to restore economic cooperation with China, their biggest trading partner, after years of souring relations, but their three-way talks were overshadowed by heightened tensions between China and the United States, Seoul and Tokyo’s most important military ally. The trilateral meeting — featuring President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and Premier Li Qiang, the second-highest official in China — was the first in four and a half years. Talks focused mainly on areas where common ground could more easily be found, such as protecting supply chains, promoting trade and cooperating on the challenges of aging populations and emerging infectious diseases. The leaders tiptoed around thorny regional security issues like Taiwan and North Korea. “The three nations agreed to expand practical cooperation in a way their people can feel its benefits,” Mr. Yoon said during a joint news conference with Mr. Kishida and Mr. Li, announcing 2025 and 2026 as the “years of cultural exchanges” among the three nations.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Fumio Kishida, Li Qiang, China —, Mr, Yoon, Kishida, Li Organizations: North Korea , Mr Locations: South Korea, Japan, China, United States, Seoul, Taiwan, North Korea

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Dow's worst day in 2024, Nvidia shares pop
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Dow sinks 600 pointsThe Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its worst day of the year, dropping over 600 points on Thursday. Nvidia's blockbuster earnings and guidance failed to prop up markets, with more than 400 stocks on the S&P 500 trading lower. Nvidia popsShares of Nvidia soared as much as 11% after the AI chipmaker's earnings that beat Wall Street's estimates. Wall Street analysts are revising their price targets for Nvidia upwards after its blowout earnings and guidance.

Persons: Dow, Musk, Elon Musk, he's, Joe Biden, Tesla, Karen Tso, Brian West, Korea's Kospi Organizations: CNBC, Dow Jones, Boeing, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, Nvidia, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Samsung Electronics, Samsung, CSI, Wall, Microsoft Locations: China, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ RIP Kabosu, the celebrity canine who became the face of Dogecoin
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kabosu, the Shiba Inu who became the face of Dogecoin, has died at the age of 18. Her quizzical expression went viral in 2010 and was later used as the cryptocurrency mascot. Elon Musk was one of Dogecoin's biggest fans, and Kabosu briefly became the Twitter logo in 2023. AdvertisementA diminutive Japanese dog who became the face of Dogecoin has died. The billionaire joked about Dogecoin on "SNL" and even briefly changed the Twitter home button to an image of Kabosu after buying the site in 2022.

Persons: Shiba Inu, Elon Musk, Kabosu, —, Dogecoin, Kabosu —, Atsuko Sato, Sato, Billy Markus, Jackson Palmer, Shiba Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Japan

☆ Japanese stocks are rallying this year. But one key group of investors is missing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Japanese stocks are enjoying a banner year, with foreign investors plowing into the market. Japanese investors are hesitant Japanese investors have long been skeptical of the local stock market after the asset price bubble burst in the early 1990s. Another reason Japanese investors may not be as keen on their domestic market could be the yen falling sharply. Outlook for Japanese stocks still strong Despite the recent bout of selling from local investors and the market's recent struggles, many global investors remain bullish on Japanese stocks. This is another "slow-moving but important tailwind to Japanese stocks," with more room to run, according to Zachary Hill, Horizon Investments head of portfolio management.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Kishida, Julian McManus, Janus Henderson, Bernstein, Zachary Hill, Raymond Chan, Chan, McManus, he's, Warren Buffett Organizations: Japan Exchange Group, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, U.S ., Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Investment, Association, Prime, Nippon, Savings, U.S, Horizon Investments, Federal Reserve, Asia Pacific, Allianz Global Investors, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo Locations: U.S, Japan, Asia

☆ Dollar hovers near highest in a week after hawkish Fed minutes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The yen l anguished just above a three-week low despite the continued threat of intervention by Japanese officials. The dollar index, which tracks the currency against six major rivals including the euro , sterling and yen, was little changed at 104.89 after gaining 0.28% overnight. The dollar was little changed at 156.77 yen after rising to 156.85 overnight, the highest since May 1. Traders and analysts suspect Japan's Ministry of Finance intervened several times to support the yen following its plunge to a 34-year low of 160.245 per dollar on April 29. Bigger rival bitcoin was little changed at $69,491 after reaching $71,957 on Tuesday for the first time since April 9.

Persons: Sterling, Ether, James Kniveton, Japan's, Rishi Sunak, bitcoin Organizations: Bank of Japan, Reserve, Federal, Traders, of Finance, Bank of England, Conservatives, Labour Party, Labour, Securities

☆ Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors parse slew of Japanese data
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading about 0.5% lower in the first hour of trade, while the Kospi slid 0.35%. There was a marginal improvement in business sentiment, with the Reuters Tankan non-manufacturing index coming in at +26. Japan is slated to release its April trade data, as well as machinery orders for the month of March. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 19,212 pointing to a slightly weaker start compared with the HSI's close of 19,220.62.

Organizations: Nikkei, Reuters, Reserve Bank of New Zealand Locations: Asia, Pacific, Australia, Japan

☆ US embassy in London refuses to pay $18.6 million in congestion charge fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US embassy in London is refusing to pay more than $18.6 million in charges from unpaid congestion fees, according to Transport for London (TfL), which oversees the city’s vast transport network. The congestion charge was introduced in 2003 in order to stem traffic and pollution in central London. However, TfL is insisting that in agreement with the UK government, London’s congestion charge constitutes a service and not tax. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 161 embassies, high commissions and consulates owed more than $182 million combined in unpaid congestion charge fees, according to TfL data. According to TfL’s figures, the Japanese embassy owes the second highest amount from unpaid congestion charge fees, at around $12.8 million.

Persons: ”, Dominic Raab Organizations: CNN, Transport, London, Drivers, TfL, International Court of Justice, Diplomatic Relations, U.S . Government, CNN “, of, Embassy, Foreign Office Locations: London, Vienna, of Japan

☆ Flying is cheaper in 2024. But not for some destinations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Americans traveling this summer have broadly seen prices fall for airline fares, a welcome trend after last year's sticker shock. But airfare remains more expensive in 2024 for some regions and destinations, largely for trips abroad, data shows. Flights to Canada, South America, and the Middle East and Africa regions are also up 6%, 2% and 1%, respectively, from summer 2023, Hopper found. High prices to certain Asian cities impact many American tourists since the continent is their second-most frequented international travel destination, Hopper said. Average fares to Europe, the most popular trip abroad for Americans, are down 8% in summer 2024 versus a year ago, when they were at record highs.

Persons: Hopper Organizations: Finance Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Canada, South America, East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Sakata, Ipoh, Udon Thani, Thailand's, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lima, Peru, Santiago, Chile, Friedrichshafen, Memmingen, Germany, Bratislava, Slovakia

The Joint Program Office declined to comment to Military.com regarding the restriction. A spokesperson for the Marine Corps could not provide details on the restriction but said efforts are underway to return the aircraft to full operations. Pedro Caballero, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps, told Military.com when asked whether the restrictions applied to its roughly 350 Ospreys, the vast majority of the military's fleet. US Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys take off at Port Darwin in Australia. An MV-22B Osprey conducts an external lift with US Marines during helicopter support team training at Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California.

Persons: —, Military.com, Beth Teach, Cpl, Juan Torres, Capt, Pedro Caballero, Caballero, Colton Martin Lt, Rebecca Heyse, Amelia Kang, Brian Taylor, Taylor, Juan Paz Taylor Organizations: Service, Force, Marine Corps, Ospreys, Business, Navy, Naval Air Forces, Office, Naval Air Systems Command, Royal Australian Air Force Base, US Marine Corps, Corps, Port Darwin, Air Force Special Operations Command, Greyhound, House Armed Services, US Marines, Marine Corps Air, Services, Aviation, Air Force, Marines, Program Office, Marine, US Air National Guard, Staff Locations: Japan, Port, Australia, Miramar , California, Darwin, Washington ,, Lemonnier, Djibouti

☆ IMF says U.S. should keep open trade, work with China to resolve disputes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva (R), with Director of Strategic Communications Julie Kozack, speaks at a press briefing on the global policy agenda during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings at IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2023. The U.S. would be better served by maintaining its open trade system rather than imposing new punitive duties on Chinese goods, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday, adding that Washington and Beijing should work together to resolve their trade tensions. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack told a regular news briefing that such trade restrictions as those announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday can distort trade and investment, fragment supply chains and trigger retaliatory actions. "With respect to the tariffs, our view is that the U.S. would be better served by maintaining open trade policies that have been vital to its economic performance," Kozack said. "We also encourage the U.S. and China to work together toward a solution that addresses the underlying concerns that have exacerbated trade tensions between the two countries."

Persons: Kristalina, Strategic Communications Julie Kozack, Julie Kozack, Joe Biden, Kozack Organizations: Monetary Fund, Strategic Communications, International Monetary Fund Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Japan, Germany, China

☆ Now One Fast Train From Tokyo: Culture, Crafts and Hot Springs
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hannah Kirshner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Three of these towns — Katayamazu Onsen, Yamashiro Onsen and Yamanaka Onsen — are famous for their onsen, or hot springs. Japanese tourists still flock to Kaga’s onsen towns every fall, when the leaves turn fiery and snow crab is in season. But few foreigners find their way here, in part because the journey from Tokyo has not been easy. A new extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the high-speed train that rockets passengers from Tokyo to this region, now includes a stop at Kagaonsen station. The trip takes less than three hours on a single train.

Persons: Yamanaka, Matsuo Basho Locations: Ishikawa, Japan, Kaga City, Tokyo, Kagaonsen

☆ Dollar droops to one-month low vs euro before key CPI test
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this photo illustration, the new £10 note is seen alongside euro notes and U.S. dollar bills on Oct. 13, 2017 in Bath, England. The euro edged up 0.03% to $1.0823 in Asian trading hours, and earlier rose to $1.0828 for the first time since April 10. The dollar edged back 0.12% to 156.245 yen on Wednesday, but had pushed as high as 156.80 overnight. The dollar dropped 0.24% to 7.2232 yuan in offshore trading, after reaching the highest since May 1 at 7.2460 overnight. The New Zealand dollar climbed 0.37% to $0.6062, and earlier touched $0.6064 for the first time since April 10.

Persons: Alan Ruskin, Jerome Powell, Tony Sycamore, Joe Biden's Organizations: Reserve, U.S, Treasury, Deutsche Bank, Bank of Japan, CPI, IG, Australian, New Zealand Locations: Bath, England, U.S, China

☆ Japan’s economy contracts in first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tokyo Reuters —Japan’s economy contracted in the first quarter, squeezed by weaker consumption and external demand and throwing a fresh challenge to policymakers as the central bank looks to lift interest rates away from near-zero levels. The reading translates into a quarterly contraction of 0.5%, versus a 0.4% decline expected by economists. “Japan’s economy hit the bottom in the first quarter,” said Yoshimasa Maruyama, chief market economist at SMBC Nikko Securities. “The economy will certainly rebound this quarter thanks to rising wages although uncertainty remains on service consumption.”Capital spending, a key driver of private demand, fell 0.8% in the first quarter, versus an expected decline of 0.7%, despite hefty corporate earnings. External demand, or exports minus imports, knocked 0.3 of a percentage point off first quarter GDP estimates.

Persons: Downwardly, ”, Yoshimasa Maruyama Organizations: Tokyo Reuters, Nikko Securities, ”, Daihatsu, Bank of Japan Locations: Tokyo, “, Noto, Toyota’s

Asia-Pacific markets were largely higher Tuesday even as stocks on Wall Street stumbled, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average snapping an eight-day winning streak. Investors in Asia assessed India's inflation numbers. Data released Monday showed consumer price index climbed 4.83% year on year, nearly in line with the 4.8% expected by economists polled by Reuters. India's wholesale inflation reading is due to be released later in the day. Data from the Bank of Japan showed that corporate inflation was steady in April compared with a year earlier, but import prices jumped 6.4% year over year last month, most likely due to the yen's sharp declines.

Organizations: Dow Jones, Reuters, Bank of Japan Locations: Jama, New Delhi, India, Asia, Pacific

☆ SoftBank Vision Fund posts first annual gain in 3 years, up $4.6 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SoftBank's Vision Fund, the brainchild of the company's founder Masayoshi Son, has faced a number of headwinds including a slump in technology stocks as a result of rising interest rates, a tough China market and geopolitics. SoftBank posted a 7.24 billion Japanese yen ($4.6 billion) gain on its Vision Fund in the fiscal year ended March, the first time the flagship tech investment arm has been in the black since 2021. SoftBank's flagship tech investment arm, the Vision Fund, had a tough time in the fiscal year that ended in March 2023, posting a record loss of around $32 billion amid a slump in tech stock prices and the souring of some of the business' bets in China. However, in the June quarter of last year, the Vision Fund posted its first investment gain in five consecutive quarters, signalling early stages of a recovery. SoftBank's Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto said in the previous quarter that SoftBank had shifted from an "Alibaba to AI-centric portfolio."

Persons: Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, Masayoshi, Yoshimitsu Goto, Goto Organizations: Vision, Vision Fund Locations: China, Alibaba

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