Japan delays sale of Japan Tabacco stake
News On Japan via Wall Street Journal -- Nov 16

The Japanese government is pushing back the sale of its stake in Japan Tobacco Inc., Finance Ministry officials said on Friday, citing weak market conditions and an uncertain political situation, as the effect of a sharp slowdown in the Japanese economy continues to spread.

The government wants to sell a portion of its holding in the tobacco giant at the highest possible price to fund part of the ¥19 trillion ($209 billion) cost of reconstruction programs for areas devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

財務省は、復興財源として見込まれているJT=日本たばこ産業の株式の売却について年内は見送ることを決定しました。




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