365 articles
Japan's political parties ended months of discussions on reducing consumption tax on food and beverages without reaching consensus, leaving the final decision to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The proposal aims to ease inflation's impact on consumer spending, but disagreements over scope and budget concerns blocked a deal.
On July 25, China rejected accusations of overcapacity ahead of a US probe release that could lead to new tariffs. Beijing called the claims politically motivated and insisted its policies follow market rules.
Japan's labor ministry panel approved raising the national average minimum wage for fiscal 2026 to 1,176 yen/hour, a 4.9% increase. The move addresses rising living costs and marks the third straight year of major wage hikes. Local rates will be finalized by October 2026.
Japan's Finance Ministry is considering expanding government bond offerings for individual investors, including inflation-linked bonds to counter rising prices. The proposal aims to diversify investment options and support the domestic bond market amid low interest rates. No final decision has been made yet.
Godiva Japan is considering restructuring by seeking a sponsor as post-pandemic sales slump continues and raw material costs rise. The luxury chocolate brand's local unit is exploring external funding options to stay afloat.
Rents and home prices are rising faster than incomes, fueling a global debate: Is housing a basic right or an investment asset? Many wealthy governments are being forced to put this issue on their agendas. From London to Toronto, young buyers are being shut out of homeownership, and governments face pressure to decide housing's role.
Apple and Microsoft have simultaneously raised prices on key products due to soaring memory chip costs, driven especially by AI demand. The increases are commonly 20% or more, with some devices rising by nearly $1,300. Analysts warn the moves could hurt sales and signal a tough year ahead for consumer tech.
The Nikkei index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange tumbled more than 3% in the morning session on June 20. Investors locked in profits after the previous day's gains, while tech stocks dived following a sell-off in US markets. Higher oil prices further weighed on sentiment, prompting caution among traders.
Analysts say the rally in Tokyo's stock market, which has pushed the Nikkei index to 70,000 points, is likely to continue thanks to a wave of investment in artificial intelligence and progress in U.S.-Iran talks. Investors are closely watching the upcoming earnings season to gauge AI's impact on corporate results.
Tax-free sales at Japanese department stores in May rose 16.7% year-on-year to about 49.66 billion yen ($300 million), marking the third consecutive month of growth. The increase was fueled by the weak yen and higher luxury goods prices, with strong demand from foreign tourists, particularly from China and Asia.
