News On Japan

Japan's Real Estate Trusts Rise from the Abyss

FinanceAsia — 2009-07-03 13:32:19

Japan's 40 real estate investment trusts (Reits) are slowly and painfully recovering from their worst experience since they were introduced in 2001. However, some analysts still see major structural problems in the industry. (FinanceAsia)

Tokyo stocks down on caution ahead of U.S. jobs data, lack of cues

AP — 2009-07-02 13:06:43

Tokyo stocks fell Thursday as investors decided to lock in profits amid a lack of major trading cues and awaited U.S. jobs data for June due out later in the day, hoping for more signs of economic recovery. (AP)

Japan housewives to shun currency markets on new rule

Bloomberg — 2009-07-02 06:57:47

A plan to increase restrictions on Japan's margin-trading market may drive individual investors away, paving the way for more volatile currency movements, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Japan's Financial Services Agency, which regulates the nation's margin-trading industry, intends to cap the leverage permissible on currency trades at 50 times the amount of cash being committed starting in 2010, and reduce it to 25 times in 2011. (Bloomberg)

Japan REIT market hits 8-mth high, more gains seen

Reuters — 2009-07-01 00:41:22

Japan's real estate investment trust market climbed to an eight-month high on Monday as investors grew more optimistic about the sector's financial health and analysts forecast more upside ahead. (Reuters)

How Japan's unlikely shareholder rebellion could lead to profit plays for Western investors

moneymorning.com — 2009-07-01 00:41:22

The normally reticent Japanese investors - long accustomed, or even resigned, to public subtlety and backroom wheeling and dealing - are becoming fed up with this system and are becoming quite brazen in their protests. And very direct, as well. (moneymorning.com)

Tokyo shares blush crimson

Forbes — 2009-07-01 11:44:48

Major Asian stock markets open on Wednesday were an expanse of red, as a smaller-than-expected improvement in manufacturing sentiment and plans by manufacturers to cut capital spending by record levels hammered Tokyo shares. Seoul and Shanghai stocks bucked the trend though, as South Korea posted a record trade surplus and China's manufacturing sentiment improved. (Forbes)

Japan fund managers cut stock weighting to 6-yr low

guardian.co.uk — 2009-06-30 09:37:45

Japanese fund managers cut their global stock weighting to a new six-year low in June, worried that share prices may have risen too far without sufficiently strong evidence of a recovery for the world economy. They also lifted their bond allocations to a record level on on the view that the recent debate about inflation and the search by central banks for eventual exit strategies from current easy policies has been overdone in light of the fragile state of the global economy. (guardian.co.uk)

Tokyo stocks fall on share sale concern as investors await key data

AP — 2009-06-29 11:35:37

Tokyo stocks fell Monday on worries over share value dilution from expected equity sales by two big financial institutions, erasing early gains, as investors awaited key domestic and overseas economic indicators this week. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 93.92 points, or 0.95 percent, from Friday to 9,783.47, snapping a three-day winning streak. (AP)

Suzuki shares surge on possible Volkswagen tie-up

Reuters — 2009-06-26 06:05:05

Shares of Suzuki Motor (7269.T: Quote, Profile, Research) raced to a 10-month high after a source said Volkswagen (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) is exploring a deal to cooperate with the Japanese automaker to boost its presence in ultra-small cars. (Reuters)

Japan Post urged to freeze initial public offerings of shares

AP — 2009-06-26 06:07:39

Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato urged Japan Post on Friday to freeze its initial public offerings of shares in itself and two of its subsidiaries planned for fiscal 2010 ending in March 2011. "No one believes stock offerings are appropriate," Sato told a news conference after the government ordered Japan Post in April to improve its business practices over scandals including its failed sale of the Kampo-no-yado nationwide resort inn network. (AP)

It's time to be big in Japan

Motley Fool — 2009-06-25 14:09:15

Japan's post-war "economic miracle" drove the country on to ever greater economic heights which, from the investment point of view, peaked in December 1989 with the Nikkei at a dizzyingly high 38,957. Since then, it's been down, down, down as the Nikkei chart shows. The last time the Nikkei was at this level, we hadn't even started the miners' strike, the new romantics were, well ...new, and for those old enough to remember it, "Big in Japan" hadn't even been a hit yet. (Motley Fool)

Tokyo stocks rebound on resource gains, China recovery hopes

AP — 2009-06-24 10:42:34

Tokyo stocks rebounded Wednesday, buoyed by gains in resource shares and rallies in other Asian markets on hopes for China's economic recovery, although caution ahead of U.S. data and Federal Reserve announcements capped gains. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 40.71 points, or 0.43 percent, to 9,590.32 from Tuesday, when it dropped almost 3 percent to a one-month closing low. (AP)

Nikkei down almost 3% on renewed economic worries, weak resource shares

AP — 2009-06-23 11:31:18

Japan's Nikkei stock index dropped almost 3 percent Tuesday to close in the 9,500 range for the first time in more than three weeks amid rekindled global economic jitters, while lower commodity prices and a stronger yen added to the broad-based decline. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 276.66 points, or 2.82 percent, from Monday to 9,549.61. It was the benchmark's lowest close since May 29 when it logged 9,522.50. (AP)

Wallets will snap shut in Japan

Wall Street Journal — 2009-06-21 22:27:15

A comeback by Japanese consumers? Don't bet on a lasting one. Consumer sentiment is on the rise, last month reaching levels not seen since March 2008. Recent government spending and expansion of the unemployment safety net get most of the credit. The recovery in stock prices is helping, an important factor because more individuals than ever invested in stocks in the year through March, the Tokyo Stock Exchange said Friday. (Wall Street Journal)

Japan stocks nudge higher after down week

boston.com — 2009-06-22 13:34:22

Japanese stocks rose modestly Monday after trading in a narrow band throughout the day as investors remained cautious about whether the economy is headed toward a recovery. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index edged up 40.01 points, or 0.4 percent, to 9,826.27. The broader Topix index gained 3.51 points, or 0.3 percent, to 922.48. (boston.com)

Fukuoka bourse seeks to list Asian firms to energize trading

AP — 2009-06-22 13:34:22

The Fukuoka Stock Exchange is planning to create a new system to list Asian companies on the bourse to stimulate trading, according to sources close to the matter. The FSE is in talks with the Financial Services Agency and aims to decide on screening rules for foreign stock listing by September and to inaugurate the new system possibly in January next year, the sources said. (AP)

FY 2008 stock dividends by listed firms to mark 1st drop in 7 years

AP — 2009-06-20 23:58:02

The total amount of stock dividends planned to be paid by listed firms for fiscal 2008 is expected to mark the first drop in seven years, mirroring deteriorating business results amid the global economic downturn, an economic think tank said Saturday. The combined amount of dividends by about 2,700 firms in the year ended March 31 is projected to total about 6.09 trillion yen, down 9.0 percent from the previous year, according to the Financial & Economic Research Center of Nomura Securities Co. (AP)

Nonresident ownership of shares dives 4%

Japan Times — 2009-06-19 22:47:10

Nonresident investors owned 23.6 percent of shares traded on stock exchanges in Japan in fiscal 2008, down 4.0 percentage points from the previous year in the largest fall on record, the Tokyo Stock Exchange said Friday. (Japan Times)

Tokyo stocks rebound on rosy U.S. data, gains capped before weekend

AP — 2009-06-19 13:43:09

Tokyo stocks rose Friday after upbeat U.S. job and manufacturing data revived hopes for better economic prospects, although gains were capped by some profit-taking ahead of the weekend. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 82.54 points, or 0.85 percent, from Thursday to 9,786.26. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 7.76 points, or 0.85 percent, to 918.97. (AP)

Beleaguered Japanese companies face the judgment of shareholders

FT.com — 2009-06-19 13:43:09

When Sir Howard Stringer addresses hundreds of Sony's shareholders today, the man who runs one of Japan's best-recognised brands will have some uncomfortable questions to answer. He faces the frustration of the electronic group's numerous individual shareholders who will be flocking to the annual meeting to hear how Sony's chief executive intends to reverse the company's miserable performance . (FT.com)

Struggling Elpida soon to apply for gov't financial aid program

AP — 2009-06-18 23:24:23

Struggling chipmaker Elpida Memory Inc. is set to become the first Japanese company to apply for a new government aid program Friday in a bid to shore up its financial health, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday. (AP)

Ex-Livedoor execs ordered to pay 62 mil. yen in damages to shareholders

AP — 2009-06-18 23:24:23

The Tokyo District Court on Thursday ordered Livedoor Co., now LDH Corp., Takafumi Horie, the founder and former president of Livedoor, and other former executives of the company to pay some 61.98 million yen in compensation for stock losses to shareholders due to accounting fraud. (AP)

Why Japan Is Leading the Small-Cap ETF Rally

nasdaq.com — 2009-06-17 23:16:22

The outlook for Japan's economy is not as doom and gloom as once anticipated, with an upgrade to exports and industrial production giving hope to the overall economic picture. Related stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are on the move in response to the news. (nasdaq.com)

Nikkei edges up after sharp slide, Sanyo surges

Reuters — 2009-06-17 12:16:37

Japan's Nikkei stock average edged up 0.9 percent on Wednesday, with Sanyo Electric (6764.T) surging after saying it had secured buyers for its batteries used in hybrid cars. (Reuters)

World's biggest pension fund may sell Japanese bonds this year

Bloomberg — 2009-06-16 08:50:41

Japan's public pension fund, the world's largest with about 120 trillion yen ($1.2 trillion) in reserves, said it may sell Japanese government bonds this year to cover payments to retirees. The Government Pension Investment Fund, the biggest buyer of the nation's government bonds, won't receive more money from the state after it was made independent in 2006, President Takahiro Kawase said. (Bloomberg)