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☆ Investing in Japan after the elections? The pros share their take
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The outcome of this snap election signals that Ishiba may face difficulties in getting his party's policies passed in parliament. These include "more fiscal stimulus measures," and a cut in tax rates, Okamura added. His comments come amid expectations of the Bank of Japan leaving its rates unchanged at its meeting on Oct. 31. 'High-quality companies' Okamura is now betting on "higher quality companies with good pricing power." The five are also among the top holdings in the 19.1 billion yen (124.6 million) Japan Equity Engagement Fund .

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba's, Komeito, Izumi Devalier, CNBC's, Neuberger Berman's Kei Okamura, Okamura —, —, Okamura, bode Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, Bank of America, Nikkei, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Bank of Japan's, U.S . Federal Reserve, Fed, Bank of Japan, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Logistics, Tokyo Marine Holdings, Japan Equity, Tokyo Marine Locations: Japan, Tokyo, shareholdings

☆ Japan’s government in flux after election gives no party majority
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

TOKYO — The makeup of Japan’s future government was in flux on Monday after voters punished Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s scandal-tainted ruling coalition in a weekend election, leaving no party with a clear mandate to lead the world’s fourth-largest economy. The biggest winner of the night, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), had 148 seats, up from 98 previously, but also still well short of the 233 majority. But days before the vote, a newspaper affiliated with the Japan Communist Party reported that the party had provided campaign funds to branches headed by non-endorsed candidates. “LDP’s payments to branches show utter lack of care for public image,” ran an editorial in the influential Asahi newspaper two days before the election. In one bright spot, a record 73 women were elected into Japan’s male-dominated parliament, surpassing 54 at the 2009 election.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba’s, “, Ishiba, Komeito, Keiichi Ishii, ”, Tobias Harris, Yoshihiko Noda, Fumio Kishida, Yuichiro Tamaki, Nobuyuki Baba, Rintaro Nishimura, Masakazu Tokura Organizations: U.S, Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Japan Foresight, LDP, Japan Communist Party, Asahi, Democratic Party for, People, Japan Innovation Party, DPP, Bank of Japan, Asia, Komeito Locations: TOKYO, China, North Korea, Japan

☆ Japan's central bank to remain undeterred on rate hikes despite LDP's electoral shock, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's longtime ruling Liberal Democratic Party may have suffered an election shock, but analysts said that's unlikely to deter the Bank of Japan from its interest rate hike cycle. In Sunday's elections, the LDP lost its majority in Japan's lower house for the first time since 2009. Besides its junior coalition partner Komeito, the LDP will need to work with other parties to form a government. The political turmoil comes ahead of a Bank of Japan meeting this week. Roughly 86% of economists polled by Reuters expect the central bank to leave its rates unchanged when it announces its decision Thursday.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Japan's, Komeito, David Boling, CNBC's, they're, Izumi Devalier, Devalier, you've Organizations: Japan, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Liberal Democratic Party, Bank of Japan, LDP, Eurasia Group, Reuters, Bank of America Locations: Washington , U.S, Japan

☆ Yen slips as Japan's election result clouds BOJ rate hike prospects
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The yen touched a three-month low on Monday as Japan's ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority and investors figured that would likely slow future interest rate hikes, while the dollar headed for a monthly gain on rising U.S. yields. On the dollar, the yen hit its weakest since late July at 153.3 in early-morning trade and it touched the same milestone at 165.36 to the euro . That was down from the 279 seats they held previously and marked the coalition's worst result since it briefly lost power in 2009. The U.S. dollar index has climbed 3.6% during October, its sharpest monthly rise since April 2022. The New Zealand dollar traded near a three-month low of $0.5974, down nearly 6% for the month.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba's, Komeito, Donald Trump, Sterling Organizations: Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, NHK, Bank of Japan, Nomura, U.S, gilts, Australian, New Zealand Locations: Japan, U.S, Europe, Australia, China

It’s still unclear if his ruling coalition with the junior partner Komeito can retain a majority. Ishiba has set a goal of retaining a majority of 233 seats for the ruling coalition between the LDP and its Buddhist-backed Komeito. But analysts say Ishiba’s LDP was expected to remain the top party in Japan’s parliament as voters are skeptical about the opposition’s ability and inexperience. There could be regrouping attempts among opposition parties to decide whether to cooperate among themselves or join the ruling coalition, political watchers say. Ishiba is expected to last at least until the ruling bloc approves key budget plans at the end of December.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba’s, It’s, Komeito, can’t, Ishiba, Fumio Kishida, “, ”, Yoshihiko Noda, Noda, won’t, Izuru Makihara, ” Makihara, Shinzo Abe, Rintaro Nishimura, Abe Organizations: NHK, Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, University of Tokyo, The Asia Group, Democratic Party of, Japan Innovation Party Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Japan’s

☆ Japan votes in election expected to punish PM Ishiba's coalition
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

TOPSHOT - Officials look on as people vote during the general election at a polling station set up at a local school in Tokyo on October 27, 2024. Japan voted on October 27 in its tightest election in years, with new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his juggernaut Liberal Democratic Party facing potentially their worst result since 2009. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)Japan's voters decide the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government on Sunday in an election expected to punish his coalition over a funding scandal and inflation, potentially ending a decade of dominance for his Liberal Democratic Party. Political wrangling could roil markets and be a headache for the Bank of Japan, if Ishiba chooses a partner that favours maintaining near-zero interest rates when the central bank wants to gradually raise them. "That's basically the scenario for 'sell Japan'," as investors ponder how the outcome could affect fiscal and monetary policy, said Naka Matsuzawa, chief macro strategist at Nomura Securities.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Richard A, Brooks, RICHARD A, BROOKS, Shigeru Ishiba's, Komeito, Ishiba, Jeffrey Hall, That's, Naka Matsuzawa Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, Getty, LDP, Bank of Japan, Kanda University of International Studies, Asahi, Nomura Securities, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Locations: Tokyo, Japan, AFP, China

☆ Japan’s ruling party set to lose long-standing majority in major blow to new PM
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Japan’s longtime ruling party is projected to lose its majority after Sunday’s general election, in what would be a major blow to new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba amid public anger over economic woes and a series of political scandals. Exit polls Sunday from public broadcaster NHK suggest Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will struggle to reach a majority, raising uncertainty over the make-up of the government of the world’s fourth-largest economy. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to the media at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) headquarters. Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tried to contain the damage by replacing several cabinet ministers and dissolving LDP factions, essentially coalitions within the party. As defense minister, Ishiba was strong on deterrence as a security issue.

Persons: CNN — Japan’s, Shigeru Ishiba, Ishiba, ”, Komeito, Liberal Democratic Party's, Takashi Aoyama, Fumio Kishida, ” Ishiba Organizations: CNN, NHK, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Japan's, Liberal Democratic, Reuters, Partnership, NATO Locations: United States, Asia, China, North Korea, Japan, Pacific

☆ Japan's Liberal Democratic Party to lose parliamentary majority in snap election, exit polls show
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (top C) delivers an election campaign speech in support of the Liberal Democratic Party candidate in Chiba on October 19, 2024. Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is set to lose its parliamentary majority, with analysis and exit polls by local news suggesting it could even fall short with its coalition partner. As polls closed at 8 p.m. local time Sunday, the decision desk of NHK, Japan's national public broadcaster, predicted a tight race. A party or coalition bloc needs to hit the threshold of 233 seats to win power in Japan's lower house, which has a total of 465 seats. The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) are both expected to gain seats, Nikkei Asia added.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Komeito Organizations: Japan's, Liberal Democratic Party, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, NHK, Nikkei, Constitutional Democratic Party, Democratic Party for, People Locations: Chiba, Nikkei Asia

☆ Japan elections 2024: Shigeru Ishiba hopes to defy economic woes and party scandals in first test
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Polls opened Sunday in Japan’s general election, in a test for new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as he seeks voter support for his scandal-hit party just weeks after taking the role. By calling an election, Ishiba, 67, is seeking a public mandate for the ruling LDP amid falling approval ratings and public anger over one of the country’s biggest political scandals in decades. Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tried to contain the damage by replacing several cabinet ministers and dissolving LDP factions, essentially coalitions within the party. Ishiba has called for a more balanced relationship, including having greater oversight of US military bases in Japan, Reuters reports. As defense minister, Ishiba was strong on deterrence as a security issue.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Ishiba, Fumio Kishida, ” Ishiba Organizations: CNN, Liberal Democratic Party, Reuters, Partnership, NATO, Sunday, Representatives, LDP, New Komeito Party Locations: Japan, Ishiba, United States, Asia, China, North Korea, Pacific

☆ Fed outlook pushes dollar to 2-1/2 month peak; yen under pressure
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar hovered at a 2-1/2-month peak on Wednesday as investors adjusted bets toward a gradual reduction of interest rates while keeping an eye on a close presidential election race. The yen remained under pressure as the dollar and U.S. Treasury yields marched higher, pushing it to a three-month low. That less dovish outlook for the Fed has helped buoy Treasury yields. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six others, was last up 0.11% at 104.18 after ticking up to 104.19, its highest since Aug. 2. The rise in U.S. Treasury yields kept the heat on the yen which sank to a three-month low of 151.72 against the greenback.

Persons: Matt Simpson, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, there's, Index's Simpson, Komeito, Sterling Organizations: U.S, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Fed, Republican, Reuters, Democratic U.S, Markets, Trump, greenback, Liberal Democratic Party, of, European Central Bank Locations: Harris, U.S, Japan

☆ Dollar steady at August high on U.S. rates view, election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar clung to a two-and-half-month high on Tuesday on expectations the Federal Reserve will take a measured approach to interest rate cuts, while a close battle in the upcoming U.S. election kept investors on edge. The U.S. dollar clung to a two-and-half-month high on Tuesday on expectations the Federal Reserve will take a measured approach to interest rate cuts, while a close battle in the upcoming U.S. election kept investors on edge. Four Federal Reserve policymakers expressed support on Monday for further rate cuts, but appeared to differ on how fast or far they believe any cuts should go. With the U.S. election just two weeks away, the rising odds of former President Donald Trump winning the Nov. 5 election are boosting the dollar, since his proposed tariff and tax policies are seen as likely to keep U.S. interest rates high. The yen on Tuesday was at 150.57 per dollar, hovering close to the two-and-half-month low of 150.88.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Donald Trump, Harris, Komeito Organizations: U.S, Reserve, Fed ., Federal, Traders, Fed, Trump, PineBridge Investments, Liberal Democratic Party Locations: U.S, Treasuries

☆ Japan's Kishida sends letter to China's Xi - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a summit discussion on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, at the Stanford, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A Beijing delegation of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Japan's ruling party, handed a letter from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting with China's top leadership team on Wednesday, NHK reported. The broadcaster did not say what was in the letter. Komeito representatives and Kishida's office were not available to comment on Thursday, a public holiday in Japan. Yamaguchi and Cai also agreed to work toward a resumption of dialogue between the CPC and the coalition of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, NHK reported.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Brittany Hosea, Xi Jinping, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Cai Qi, Yamaguchi, Cai, Makiko Yamazaki, Stephen Coates Organizations: Japan's, Economic Cooperation, Stanford, REUTERS, Rights, Komeito, Wednesday, NHK, Communist Party of China, CPC, Central Committee, Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Asia, California, U.S, Beijing, Japan, Taiwan

☆ Japan's Daisaku Ikeda, longtime Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist leader, dies at 95
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ikeda died on Wednesday evening from natural causes at age 95, Soka Gakkai said in a statement on its website. Soka Gakkai, founded in 1930, says it has 12 million members in 192 countries and territories worldwide. He also founded Soka Gakkai's umbrella organisation, Soka Gakkai International, in 1975, where he served as honorary president from 1979 until his death. But those dropped off in recent years leading to some speculation about his health and role in Soka Gakkai International. In 1947 he met Josei Toda, then leader of the Soka Gakkai organisation, who was to become his mentor.

Persons: Daisaku Ikeda, Ikeda, Zhou Enlai, Mikhail Gorbachev, Arnold Toynbee, Polly Toynbee, Ichi, Josei Toda, Succeeding Toda, Kaneko, Hiromasa, Takahiro, Anton Bridge, David Dolan, William Mallard aand Kim Coghill Organizations: Soka Gakkai, Kyodo, Rights, Soviet, government's, Soka, Soka Gakkai International, SGI, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, British

☆ Japanese junior coalition party calls for debate on income tax cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Takaya Yamaguchi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The head of the tax panel for the Japanese political party Komeito, a junior coalition partner with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said on Tuesday a thorough debate is needed on a controversial plan to cut income tax next year. Makoto Nishida, Komeito's tax panel head, said that policymakers should not have a preset mind to limit the tax break to just a year, signalling a possibility to extend it beyond 2024. Prime Minister Fumio Kishiida of the LDP plans to adopt income tax cuts for the next fiscal year as part of a broader economic package to boost household incomes and consumption. Opposition lawmakers have criticized the income tax cuts as politically motivated and ineffective as it takes time to implement and it could end up adding to the Japan's debt burden, the industrial world's largest. Additional reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Makoto Nishida, Nishida, Fumio Kishiida, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Japan PM Kishida plans Sept 13 cabinet reshuffle, coalition partner says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during the leaders talk of the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum (AIPF) in Jakarta, Indonesia September 6, 2023. Adek Berry/Pool via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to reshuffle his cabinet on Sept. 13, the head of the junior partner in Kishida's ruling coalition said on Friday. On Thursday, there was further bad news when former ruling Liberal Democratic Party member Masatoshi Akimoto was arrested on suspicion of taking bribes. 56% of people thought Kishida should renew his cabinet and shake up the senior executives of the ruling party. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya, Sakura Murakami, Kiyoshi Takenaka; editing by John Stonestreet and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Adek Berry, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Kishida, Masatoshi Akimoto, Akimoto, Kantaro Komiya, Sakura Murakami, Kiyoshi Takenaka, John Stonestreet, Susan Fenton Organizations: Japan's, ASEAN, Pacific, Rights, Public, NHK, Liberal Democratic Party, Asahi, Yomiuri, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, India

☆ Japan considering extending gasoline subsidies to year-end - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gasoline fuel guns are pictured in front of fuel boards at a gasoline station in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Japan's government is considering extending until year-end fuel subsidies to keep gasoline prices below 180 yen a litre, while working on a supplementary budget to finance broader measures, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Earlier, the sources had said the fuel subsidies would be funded by the supplementary budget. Last week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed ruling party officials to consider steps to extend the fuel subsidies which were introduced in January 2022 to help ease cost of living pressures. Gasoline prices have been rising steadily in Japan due to the weaker yen and higher global prices.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Komeito, Toshimitsu Motegi, Shunichi Suzuki, Fumio Kishida, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Katya Golubkova, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Liberal Democratic Party, Finance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Head of Japan coalition partner postpones China visit at China's request
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi attends a debate session with other leaders of Japan's main political parties, ahead of October 31, 2021 lower house election, at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The head of Japan's Komeito party, the junior partner in the coalition government, will postpone his planned visit to China at China's request, the party announced on Saturday. Natsuo Yamaguchi was planning to visit China from August 28 to 30 in hopes of meeting China's President Xi Jinping and to hand over a personal letter from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Komeito said in a statement that it hoped "to readjust the appropriate timing of the visit in the future." The party said the Chinese side had explained that the country sees the importance of Komeito's longstanding friendly exchanges with China and expressed appreciation for Komeito's efforts to realise the visit.

Persons: Natsuo Yamaguchi, Issei Kato, Japan's, Xi Jinping, Fumio Kishida, Komeito, Mariko Katsumura, Jason Neely Organizations: Japan National Press Club, REUTERS, Rights, Kishida, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, United States, South Korea, South China

FILE PHOTO: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida poses during his news conference in Tokyo, Japan on February 24, 2023. Stanislav Kogiku/Pool via REUTERSThe news comes as households grapple with intensifying cost-of-living pressures amid elevated inflation for items such as energy and food, hitting consumption and smaller businesses. Thanks to the energy subsidies, a leading indicator of Japan’s consumer prices rose at a slower pace in February, data showed on Friday. However, an index stripping away the effect of fuel hit a fresh three-decade high in a sign of broadening inflationary pressures. The Japanese government will consider asking major utilities to reduce price increases for households in light of recent declines in energy prices, Kyodo news agency reported on Friday.

☆ South Korea hints at compensating victims of Japan's colonial forced labour
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan said it has secured initial donations from steelmaker POSCO (005490.KS) totalling 4 billion won ($3.2 million). Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Tokyo’s top spokesperson, declined to comment on Seoul’s compensation plan or its public hearing, saying they were domestic matters within South Korea. The foundation's chief, Shim Kyu-sun, said he would encourage South Korean companies to donate "from the perspective of social responsibility". National flags of South Korea and Japan are displayed during a meeting between Komeito Party members and South Korean lawmakers at Komeito Party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, July 31, 2019. Under the 1965 deal, South Korea was required to consider all pre-treaty compensation issues settled.

The draft annual tax-code revision seen by Reuters is expected to be approved by Kishida's cabinet on Friday. read moreUnder his flagship initiative aimed at redistributing income, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has sought to shift Japan's 2,000 trillion yen ($14.52 trillion) in household assets away from savings and into investment. As part of this initiative, the government will make permanent a programme that offers tax breaks for households' stock investments. "It will be implemented at "an appropriate time" from 2024 onwards," LDP tax panel head Yoichi Miyazawa told reporters on Thursday. Tobacco tax will be also raised in stages by 3 yen per cigarette, the draft showed.

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