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☆ Biden gives Samsung $6.4 billion in grants to boost Texas chip output
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Reuters —The Biden administration will award up to $6.4 billion in grants to South Korea’s Samsung Electronics to expand its chip production in central Texas as part of a broader effort to boost US chipmaking, the Department of Commerce said on Monday. The funding from the 2022 Chips and Science Act will support two chip production facilities, a research center and a packaging facility, in Taylor, Texas, the agency said, as previously reported by Reuters. It will also enable Samsung to expand its Austin, Texas, semiconductor facility, Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo added, while boosting chip output for the aerospace, defense and auto industries and bolstering national security, administration officials told reporters. Samsung is expected to invest roughly $45 billion in building and expanding its Texas facilities through the end of the decade, said senior administration officials. Intel won $8.5 billion in grants last month while Taiwan’s TSMC clinched $6.6 billion in April to build out its American production.

Persons: Reuters —, Biden, Gina Raimondo, ” Raimondo, Kyung Kye Hyun, “, Samsung, ”, John Cornyn, Taiwan’s TSMC Organizations: Reuters, South, Samsung Electronics, Department of Commerce, Samsung, Commerce, Samsung Electronics Co, Analysts, Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA, Lawmakers, Texans, Republican, US Commerce Department, ” SIA, Intel Locations: Texas, Taylor , Texas, Austin , Texas, United States, China, Taiwan, Republican U.S

☆ Kate’s cancer revelation throws royal family into fresh turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Yet again, the royal family could face some difficult questions about what they chose to reveal to the public, and when. Kin Cheung/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Kate Middleton, seen here at age 3, was born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, England. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Kate and Prince William pose for photographers during an event to mark their engagement in 2010. Hannah McKay/Reuters From left, Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wave to a crowd outside Windsor Castle ahead of the Queen's funeral in 2022. Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images Kate attends the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London in November 2023.

Persons: Catherine , Princess, Wales, ”, Kate, “ KATE, Prince William, Kate –, Queen Camilla, King Charles III’s, Catherine , Princess of, Kelly Holmes, Kelly Holmes Trust —, Kin Cheung, Kate Middleton, Middleton, Pippa, Michael, Clarence House, Stephen Lock, Shutterstock Prince William, Richard Heathcote, William, Princess Diana, Ben Stansall, Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, Kirsty Wigglesworth, John Stillwell, Charles Dharapak, Queen Elizabeth II, Stefan Wermuth, Elizabeth II, Arthur Edwards, Harry Potter, Chris Jackson, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Dominic Lipinski, Prince Louis, Charlotte, Aaron Chown, Oli Scarff, Queen, Hannah McKay, Meghan, Duchess of, Emilio Morenatti, Paul Grover, King Charles III, Yui Mok, Reuters Kate, Turlough Mor, Seamus, Karwai Tang, Choo Kyung, Max Mumby, Henry Nicholls, David Cliff, Diana, of, Rishi Sunak, “, Princess, Princess of Wales, CNN Kate, Easter, Prince William –, Gupta, George, Louis, Prince, Kate’s Organizations: London CNN, Times, Sun, Kelly Holmes Trust, Getty, University of St, English rugby, Nations, Italy, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Queen, Mary's, Trench, Culture Yard, Royal Air Force, Reuters, Hall, Horse Guards, Irish Guards, National Service of, Images Police, London Clinic, Getty Images, Press Association, Britain, Mary’s, British, CNN, CNN’s Royal Locations: British, Catherine , Princess of Wales, Bath, England, Reading, Jerash, Jordan, Blenheim, Oxfordshire, Andrews, Scotland, AFP, Westminster, London, Buckingham, South Pacific, Tuvalu, St, St . Austell, Kingston , Jamaica, Caribbean, Duchess of Sussex, Windsor, South Korea, Kensington, Wales, Lindo, London’s St, of Wales, Princess

Another threat to election officialsAt least four swatting incidents have been aimed at the homes of senior officials who oversee or work to secure elections since December. Separately, a Department of Justice taskforce launched in 2021 has reviewed more than 2,000 allegations of hostility, harassment, abuse, or threats to election officials and staffers, a department spokesperson said. Swatting was featured in a tabletop exercise for election officials in New Jersey last month, a spokesperson for the secretary of state told CNN. Such incidents have prompted The Elections Group, a consulting group led by former election officials, to begin sharing resources on swatting with election workers and incorporating the topic into trainings. A wave of election officials have departed their roles since November 2020, when false claims of a stolen election proliferated.

Persons: Jay Ashcroft, ” Ashcroft, State Jay Ashcroft, Kacen Bayless, ”, Ashcroft, Gabriel Sterling, “, we’ll, Sterling, Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, swatting, ” Jennifer Doebler, Alan Winston Filion, Filion “, Filion, Jennifer Doebler, Lauren R, Shapiro, Republican Sen, Rick Scott of, Scott’s, Sen, Rick Scott swatting, “ Sir, there’s, “ It’s, Swatting, State Shenna Bellows, Bellows, Donald Trump, Trump, Ashcroft’s, Joe Biden, Tina Barton, ” Barton Organizations: CNN, Missouri’s, Republican, State, Kansas City Star, TNS, Getty, FBI, of Justice, Local, Sandy, John Jay College of Criminal, swatting, ”, Naples Police, “, Trump, Elections, Commission Locations: Jefferson City , Missouri, Missouri, Maine , Georgia, Virginia, Sterling, Britain, Sandy Springs, Kansas, Tennessee, California, Rick Scott of Florida, Naples , Florida, Naples, New Jersey, Georgia, Maine

US law enforcement officials have also been closely monitoring the incident to determine if a federal crime was committed, a senior US official familiar with the matter told CNN. Tom Brenner/ReutersA longtime political consultant, Kramer worked for Kanye West’s 2020 presidential bid and has a history of producing robocalls. Phillips’ campaign said it had no knowledge of his reported involvement with the AI Biden call. He said that Kramer told him to delete all of the emails between the two of them, and that he did. As figures at the center of American political scandals go, Carpenter is certainly “eccentric” – a word he uses to describe himself.

Persons: Paul Carpenter –, –, Joe Biden’s, Carpenter, Dean Phillips, Biden, ”, “ I’m, Steve Kramer, Phillips, Kramer, Carpenter’s, Biden’s, Tom Brenner, Kanye, Phillips ’, robocalls, ” Phillips, Katie Dolan, ” Dolan, Hank Sheinkopf, Sheinkopf, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ I’d, “, who’s, Donald Trump, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, ” Carpenter, he’s, didn’t, Bruce Kramer, Brandon Kizy –, Paul Carpenter, CNN “ Paul, Paul, ” Kizy, Hany Farid, we’ve, ” Liz Purdy, I’d, “ I’ve, ” CNN’s Alison Main, Allison Gordon, Isabelle Chapman, Yahya Abou, Ghazala Organizations: CNN, New, Minnesota Rep, Democratic, NBC News, Commission, Reuters, South, Republican, University of California Berkeley Locations: Orleans, New Hampshire, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

The near-absence of laws criminalizing the practice of fertility fraud until recently means no doctors have yet been criminally charged for the behavior. In 2019, Indiana became the second state, more than 20 years after California, to pass a statute making fertility fraud a felony. He added some of his biological children have “expressed gratitude for their existence” to him and even sent him photos of their own children. Cline’s case spurred lawmakers to pass legislation that outlawed fertility fraud but wasn’t retroactive, meaning he was never prosecuted for it. “In fertility fraud, no parent is saying that – no parent is saying I would have gotten an abortion,” she said.

Persons: Hill, –, Burton Caldwell, “, ” Hill, we’ve, ”, Jody Madeira, Laura Oliverio, wasn’t, Eve Wiley, Marvin Yussman, Yussman, Victoria Hill, ” Yussman, Dr, Donald Cline, general’s, Cline, Stephanie Bice, Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Democrat –, Kelly Wilkinson, Katherine L, Kraschel, Julia T, Woodward, Laura High, we’re, ’ Let’s, it’s, let’s, OBGYN Narendra Tohan, isn’t, Tohan, ‘, Janine Pierson, Doreen Pierson, Caldwell –, Doreen, Alyssa Denniston, Caldwell, Pierson, ” Pierson, she’d, doesn’t, texted, Jamie LeRose, Maralee Hill, Victoria, Sean Tipton, Tipton, Caldwell “, didn’t Organizations: CNN, Indiana University, Savin Rock, CNN CNN, Netflix, Oklahoma Republican, New, New Jersey Democrat, Indianapolis Star, DC, Northeastern University, Duke University Health System, CNN Fertility, United, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Seagulls Locations: Connecticut, Savin Rock Beach, West Haven , Connecticut, Indiana, California, Kentucky, Wethersfield , Connecticut, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Indianapolis, Wethersfield, New Britain, Madeira, Yale, Victoria, Hartford , Connecticut, Victoria Hill's, Norwalk, Norway, Germany, United States, Cheshire, New Haven

☆ How a Dior bag shook South Korean politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is months out from a crucial election seen as a barometer of his mid-term popularity, but surveys show he has a big problem – the latest scandal surrounding his wife. “But with the Dior bag, there is this powerful visual evidence.”South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, attend an Independence Movement Day event in Seoul on March 1, 2023. The channel also provided Choi with the wristwatch and the Dior bag, according to the pastor. By appearing to not reject the bag, Kim gave ammunition to critics who have long accused her of using her position for personal gain. In a Gallup Korea survey last month, 56% of respondents said Kim should apologize for allegedly receiving the Dior bag.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon, Kim, Dior, “, ”, Cho Hee, Jung Yeon, Choi Jae, Choi, Yoon Suk, ” Yoon, Shin Pyeong, ’, Cho, it’s, Hongik University Choi, Kim Yun, Park, hye, Patrick van Katwijk, Marie Antoinette, Han Dong, Han, he’d, Leon Neal, ” Kim, ” Kim Yun, Kyung Hee University “ She’s, Deutsch, Kim’s Organizations: South Korea CNN — South, CNN, Hongik University, “, Getty, of, KBS, Kyung Hee University . South, Gallup Korea, Gallup, Power Party, Democratic Party, PPP, South, Kyung Hee University, Kookmin University, Deutsch Motors, BMW Locations: Seoul, South Korea, American, of Seoul, North Korea, Pyongyang, Netherlands, Gallup Korea, Bali , Indonesia, Korea

☆ Japan takes earthquake safety seriously. Here's how its culture of preparedness keeps so many people alive.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

With its history of natural disasters, Japan is one of the countries best prepared for emergencies. Japan now has some of the strictest building codes of any country in the world, The New York Times reported after the 2011 earthquake. Japan installs resilient infrastructureMuch like its buildings, Japan has the experience and the money to fortify its infrastructure against earthquakes. During that 2011 disaster, rapid response teams were able to quickly repair roads to help move supplies and assistance to affected areas. According to the World Bank, historical knowledge may have helped save lives during Japan's 2011 tsunami.

Persons: —, Daniel Aldrich, Aldrich, he's, Kim Kyung, They're Organizations: Service, Reuters, World Bank, Northeastern University, Japan, New York Times, BBC News, Officials, Universal Studios Japan, Kyodo, REUTERS, Japan Meteorological Society, Japan Railways, Japan Times, Guardian, KYODO, Japan Meteorological Agency, NOAA Locations: Japan, Noto, Turkey, Syria, Haiti, Pakistan, Wajima, Tokyo, Mashiki, Kumamoto, Fukushima, Natori

☆ Moody's cuts China credit outlook, citing lower growth, property risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A Chinese national flag flutters at the headquarters of a commercial bank on a financial street near the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, in central Beijing November 24, 2014. "The outlook change also reflects the increased risks related to structurally and persistently lower medium-term economic growth and the ongoing downsizing of the property sector," Moody's said. "Moody's concerns about China's economic growth prospects, fiscal sustainability and other aspects are unnecessary," the ministry said. STRUGGLING FOR TRACTIONMost analysts believe China's growth is on track to hit the government's target of around 5% this year, but that compares with a COVID-weakened 2022 and activity is highly uneven. Analysts widely agree that China's growth is downshifting from breakneck expansion in the past few decades.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Moody's, Ken Cheung, Pan Gongsheng, COVID, Goldman Sachs, Gnaneshwar Rajan, Kevin Yao, Tom Hogue, Kim Coghill Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Mizuho Bank, Economic Work Conference, Fitch, China's Finance Ministry, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, China, outflows, Bengaluru

A shopkeeper naps as she waits for customers at a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea, April 7, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Dec 5 (Reuters) - South Korea's inflation eased for the first time in four months in November, bringing relief to policymakers worried about persistent inflation risks as they plan to keep their restrictive monetary policy in place for longer. "Compared to core inflation in the U.S. and Europe that seem to be still in the 4% to 5% range, (South Korea's core inflation) seems to be far more stable," said Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho at a policy meeting in Seoul. "Considering this, we see inflation stabilizing in a steady manner going forward, unless we face some additional external shocks." The Bank of Korea kept interest rates steady at 3.50% last week at its final policy meeting of the year and signalled it may need to keep interest rates higher for longer to head off persistent inflation risks.

Persons: naps, Kim Hong, Choo Kyung, BOK, Jihoon Lee, Chris Reese, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters Survey, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, U.S, Europe, Bank of Korea

☆ South Korea's Yoon set to announce cabinet reshuffle -media
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol gives a speech on the government budget at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, 31 October 2023. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to announce a major cabinet reshuffle as early as Monday, with as many as 10 ministers including the finance minister set to be replaced, Yonhap news agency reported. The financial regulator head could also be replaced, the Korea Economic Daily reported on Monday, also citing unidentified sources. Some cabinet members are widely expected to stand down to capitalise on their increased profile to run as political candidates. Yoon does not require parliamentary approval to appoint a finance minister, who also serves as deputy prime minister.

Persons: Yoon Suk, JEON HEON, Yonhap, Park, Choo Kyung, Choi Sang, Yoon, Hyunsu Yim, Cynthia Kim, Ed Davies, Christopher Cushing Organizations: South, National Assembly, Rights, Korea Economic, Foreign, Finance, Democratic Party of Korea, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Korea, Busan

"With this (decision) Yoon is trying to make sure there is policy continuity in place ahead of election," said Park Sang-hyun, an economist at HI Investment & Securities. "Choi has been long-time finance ministry person and he basically spearheaded major economics policies of the Yoon administration from the very beginning so its a safe choice." Choi has a bachelor's degree from the Seoul National University law school, where Yoon also studied around the same time. Choi's career in government service has been mostly at the finance ministry, overseeing economic policy making, financial market policies, and external business relations. Yoon doesn’t need parliamentary approval to appoint a new finance minister, who also serves as deputy prime minister.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Choi Sang, mok, Choi, Choo, Yoon, Yoon's, Yoon doesn’t, Soo, hyang Choi, Ed Davies Organizations: HI Investment, Securities, Gallup, Bank of, Seoul National University, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Gallup Korea, Daegu

☆ South Korea's Yoon Set to Announce Cabinet Reshuffle -Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to announce a major cabinet reshuffle as early as Monday, with as many as 10 ministers including the finance minister set to be replaced, Yonhap news agency reported. The transport and labour ministers may also be changed, Yonhap said, citing unidentified sources. The financial regulator head could also be replaced, the Korea Economic Daily reported on Monday, also citing unidentified sources. Some cabinet members are widely expected to stand down to capitalise on their increased profile to run as political candidates. Yoon does not require parliamentary approval to appoint a finance minister, who also serves as deputy prime minister.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Yonhap, Park, Choo Kyung, Choi Sang, Yoon, Hyunsu Yim, Cynthia Kim, Ed Davies, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Korea Economic, Foreign, Finance, Democratic Party of Korea Locations: SEOUL, Korea, Busan

Local governments plan to use the proceeds of the latest bond sales to purchase equity or convertible bonds from smaller banks, most of them state-owned, effectively recapitalising them, according to the deal prospectuses. DEEPER IN DEBTThe intensified efforts to support smaller banks also come amid growing worries about the impact of ballooning local government debt on the economy. While policymakers are highly concerned over rising debt levels, Beijing has little option but to support smaller banks to contain spillover risks, analysts said. It was not immediately clear if the central authorities had given any guidance to the local governments on recapitalising smaller banks, and who were the buyers of these special-purpose bonds. "Local governments are a likely the first line of defense whenever regional banks become stressed," they said.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Gavekal, Zhang Xiaoxi, Pan Gongsheng, Ziyi Tang, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, China Electronic Local Government Bond, Authorities, National Financial Regulatory Administration, International Monetary Fund, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Rights BEIJING, China, Henan, China's, Liaoning, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia

☆ Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group CEO dies at 65
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG)'s new chief executive Jun Ohta attends a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) (8316.T) on Monday said group CEO Jun Ohta died on Nov. 25 aged 65 of pancreatic cancer. Japan's second-biggest lender after Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T) said it plans to announce a successor in the near future as soon as an appointment is made. Ohta joined The Sumitomo Bank, a predecessor of SMFG, in 1982 and rose to group CEO in April 2019. Ohta recently sought to expand SMFG's footprint in overseas markets through an alliance with U.S. investment bank Jefferies Financial Group (JEF.N).

Persons: Jun Ohta, Kim Kyung, Japan's, Toru Nakashima, Ohta, Mariko Katsumura, Rocky Swift, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc, REUTERS, Rights, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Sumitomo Bank, Keidanren, Jefferies Financial, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SMFG

Photographers take photos near a large screen showing stock prices at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) after market opens in Tokyo, Japan October 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON/SYDNEY, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Global shares drifted on Friday in the absence of guidance from Wall Street, which was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday the previous day, but they were still on course for their best month since November 2020. An indecisive Asia session extended to Europe, with the Stoxx 600 share index (.STOXX) trading flat. Despite optimism having surged across global markets this month, there may also be a lull ahead as investors position their portfolios for 2024, some analysts said. Minutes from the latest Fed policy meeting signalled there would not be more hikes unless progress against taming inflation faltered.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Peter Doherty, Arbuthnot Latham, Shane Oliver, Naomi Rovnick, Stella Qiu, Sam Holmes, Robert Birsel, Toby Chopra, Susan Fenton Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Global, Wall, Nasdaq, Hamas, AMP, European Central Bank, ECB, Bank of England, Japan's Nikkei, China's CSI, Brent, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SYDNEY, Asia, Europe, Israel, U.S, London, OPEC

☆ Asian shares dragged lower by China, Treasury yields climb
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Both S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were also little changed. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.6% but are still headed for a weekly gain of 0.8%. Chinese bluechips (.CSI300) fell 0.7% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index (.HSI) tumbled 1.4%, reversing the previous day's hefty gains. Cash Treasuries fell a little as they resumed trading in Asia, with two-year Treasury yields up 3 basis points to 4.9419% and benchmark ten-year yields up 4 bps to 4.4606%. Brent crude futures fell 0.2% to $81.26 a barrel.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Shane Oliver, Cash Treasuries, Stella Qiu, Sam Holmes, Robert Birsel Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Wall, Nasdaq, Hamas, Nikkei, AMP, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Brent, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Europe, Israel, Gaza, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ Britain wins litter-picking World Cup with load of rubbish
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Members of team UK sort out garbage which they collected during a trash picking competition known as "Spogomi World Cup" in Tokyo, Japan November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Britain came out on top when 21 teams from around the world gathered in Tokyo this week to collect litter in the inaugural SpoGomi World Cup, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues. "Sometimes it was really hard because there wasn't really that much trash," said Team USA member Beatrice Hernandez. Organisers the Nippon Foundation said the World Cup had been held to raise awareness of environmental issues, in particular that of plastic pollution in the oceans. The second World Cup is planned for 2025.

Persons: Kim Kyung, we're, Sarah Parry, It's, Japan's, Beatrice Hernandez, Mitsuyuki Unno, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, USA, Nippon Foundation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Britain, Australia, Brazil, Shibuya, Omotesando

☆ Asian shares dragged lower by China, dollar on back foot
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Asian shares were dragged lower by China on Friday amid little guidance from Wall Street which was closed for a holiday, while the dollar remained on the back foot as investors bet U.S. rates have peaked. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) eased 0.4% but are headed for a weekly gain of 0.9%. Japan's markets (.N225) returned from a holiday, with Nikkei (.225) climbing 1.0% to charge towards a 33-year high hit on Monday. In Europe, slightly better than expected euro zone PMIs nudged the euro and shares higher and Sweden's crown dropped as its central bank left rates on hold. In the currency markets, the dollar < =USD> was on the back foot against its peers at 103.71, nearing a three month low of 103.17.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Shane Oliver, Cash Treasuries, Stella Qiu, Sam Holmes Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Nikkei, AMP, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Brent, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, Beijing, Europe

☆ Nissan to invest $1.4 bln to build two new EV models in Britain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A staff cleans charging ports of Nissan's Leaf battery electric vehicle during the Japan Mobility Show 2023 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan, November 1, 2023. Japan's third-biggest automaker said it would announce the names of the new EV models and timings for production launches at a later date. Earlier this year, Nissan raised its targets for EV models as it plays catch up in a segment dominated by newcomers like Tesla (TSLA.O) - saying it would launch 19 new EV models by 2030. The Nissan EV production announcement comes just months after India's Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) said it would invest 4 billion pounds in a UK EV battery plant to supply its Jaguar Land Rover factories. Industry experts had described the Tata battery plant as good progress, but argue Britain needs much more EV battery production capacity to maintain a viable, growing auto industry.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Makoto Uchida, Rishi Sunak, Nick Carey, Sonali Paul Organizations: Japan, REUTERS, Nissan, British, Nissan EV, India's Tata Motors, EV, Rover, Industry, Tata, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Sunderland, Europe, Britain

☆ ICBC partners wary to resume trading with bank after cyberattack - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is seen at its branch at its headquarters in Beijing, China, March 30, 2016. The attack impeded trading in the $26 billion Treasury market and has left users of the bank's U.S. arm skittish about trading with the bank, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. ICBC (601398.SS) did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment. ICBC's U.S. arm was hit by a ransomware attack earlier this month. Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Kyung, BNY Mellon, Pritam Biswas, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, REUTERS, Bloomberg, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Asian stocks hit 2-month high on Wall St rally, Fed view
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was 0.91% higher at 509.82 having touched 510.42, the highest since Sept. 18. The index is up 7% for the month and on course for its biggest monthly gain since January. The index is up roughly 28% this year, making it the best performing stock market in Asia. Lower yields kept the dollar on the back foot, with the dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against a basket of six major currencies, down 0.058% at 103.37. The Australian dollar , often seen as a barometer of risk appetite, touched a three-month high of $0.65775 earlier in the session.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Hong, HSI, Wall, Sam Altman, Ben Bennett, Rob Carnell, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, . Federal, Japan's Nikkei, Microsoft, Nvidia, Stock, Traders, Legal, General Investment Management, Treasury, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Thursday's U.S, Russia, U.S, China

☆ Bain Capital raises $7.1 bln in largest pan-Asia PE fund this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The logo of Bain Capital is displayed on the screen during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan October 5, 2017. Bain Capital said the firm itself committed $750 million to Bain Capital Asia Fund V, alongside existing and new investors. At $7.1 billion, the fund is Bain Capital's biggest to date for Asia and also the region's largest private equity fund raised this year, according to Preqin data. Bain Capital, which started fundraising in the second half of 2022, had an initial target of $5 billion. Bain Capital invests across multiple asset classes, including credit, public equity, venture capital and real estate, managing approximately $180 billion in total assets globally.

Persons: Kim Kyung, you've, David Gross, Gross, Toshiba Corp's, Bain, Kane Wu, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bain Capital, REUTERS, Bain Capital Asia Fund V, Bain Capital's, Bain, ., Toshiba, Chindata, Estia, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, Asia, U.S, Bain Capital's Asia, . Asia, China, India

☆ Japan's Nikkei seen rising to 35,000 by mid-2024 on earnings boost: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man looks at an electric board displaying the Nikkei stock average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan June 14, 2023. The median forecast for the Nikkei's level in mid-2024 was 35,000, with responses ranging from 31,143 to 39,500, the Reuters poll of 10 stocks strategists taken Nov. 10-20 showed. Japan's equity benchmark started this week by pushing to its highest level since March 1990 at 33,853.46 following a three-week winning streak. That would mean some stagnation for equities in the latter half of next year, with the Nikkei still stuck at 35,000 at year-end, according to the median poll response. "35,000 looks to be about the level where Nikkei gains line up with the timing of the BOJ getting rid of negative interest rate policy," Sycamore said.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Masayuki Kichikawa, IG's, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore, Kevin Buckland, Junko Fujita, Noriyuki, Rahul Trivedi, Pranoy, Alex Richardson Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Federal, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, IG's Sydney

☆ Morning Bid: Japanese stocks party like it's 1990
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A man walks past an electronic board displaying Japan's 10-year government bonds level, the current Japanese Yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and Nikkei share average, outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, October 31, 2023. It's been a mixed start for most of Asia in this holiday-truncated week, though Japanese shares extended their bull streak to hit highs not seen since 1990. The Nikkei is up more than 8% so far this month, and almost 29% for the year so far. The entire market capitalisation of the Topix is 454 trillion yen ($3.03 trillion), yet Japanese companies held 555 trillion yen in internal reserves at the end of the financial year. Recent surveys show inflation expectations are finally picking up which may prompt households to invest some of the 1,000 trillion yen they currently keep in cash and deposits into equities and bonds.

Persons: Kim Kyung, It's, financials, de, de Cos, Bank of England Governor Bailey, Fed's Barkin, Wayne Cole, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S ., Nikkei, REUTERS, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan's, Hamas, Tech, Nvidia, Futures, PPI, Bank of France, Bank of Spain, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Israel, United States, Gaza, de Galhau

"Given the fast-changing landscape, I believe those who move fast (with wage hikes) should become competitive." A demand made this year by Rengo, Japan's largest trade union confederation, for pay hikes of "around 5%" resulted in average wage hikes of 3.58% among major companies. Six out of 10 economists in a Reuters poll expect major firms' pay hikes in 2024 to exceed this year's. The key, however, would be whether wage hikes broaden to smaller firms and those in the regional areas. A report by the BOJ's regional branch managers in October warned wage hikes remained uneven among sectors with many firms undecided on next year's pay increments.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Takeshi Niinami, Fumio, Kazuo Ueda, Hisashi Yamada, Rengo, Atsushi Takeda, Kishida, Keita Kondo, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Kentaro Sugiyama, Sam Holmes, Leika Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Suntory Holdings Ltd, Reuters, Meiji, Life Insurance, Suntory Holdings, Bank, Japan, Hosei University, OECD, UA Zensen, Itochu Economic Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Ukraine, Saitama

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