Economic news(2025/01/30)
European Central Bank cuts interest rates by 0.25% for fourth consecutive meeting
2025-01-30 22:41:00
The European Central Bank held a board meeting to decide monetary policy on the 30th and decided to further cut interest rates by 0.25%. This is the fourth consecutive interest rate cut since September last year, and the interest rate on deposits from financial institutions, which the bank says is one of the most important policy interest rates, will be reduced from 3% to 2.75%. The eurozone's consumer price index for December last year rose 2.4% compared to the same month the previous year, marking three consecutive months of growth, but the decision to cut interest rates appears to have been made in consideration of the sluggish European economy.
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Eurozone GDP growth rate of 0% in October-December highlights economic slump
2025-01-30 21:42:00
The growth rate of GDP (gross domestic product) in the euro zone, including Germany and France, from October to December 2024 remained flat at 0% compared to the previous three months. In Germany, the largest economy, the growth rate fell into negative growth, highlighting the economic downturn.
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TEPCO HD financial results: Costs for safety measures at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant soar
2025-01-30 21:24:00
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. has forecast that its cash on hand after business activities will be negative for the seventh consecutive year in its financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 2020. The main reason for this is the rising costs of safety measures at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture, and strengthening its financial base has become an issue.
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Rakuten Securities Holdings to withdraw plan to list on Tokyo Stock Exchange
2025-01-30 21:11:00
Rakuten Securities Holdings, a subsidiary of the Rakuten Group, has decided to withdraw its plan to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It has stated that it will increase its corporate value by promoting cooperation with the Mizuho Financial Group.
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JR Central President: "We want to increase the number of Shinkansen trains that stop in Shizuoka Prefecture with the opening of the Linear Shinkansen"
2025-01-30 20:49:00
JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa met with Shizuoka Governor Suzuki, who has not approved the start of construction of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, and conveyed his intention to increase the number of stops on the Tokaido Shinkansen "Hikari" trains in Shizuoka Prefecture if the Linear opens.
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Fuji TV sets up subcommittee to overhaul management; corrections in "Weekly Bunshun" criticized
2025-01-30 19:36:00
Regarding the series of issues surrounding Nakai Masahiro's troubles with women, Fuji Television President Kenji Shimizu said in an interview with reporters that the company decided to set up a new committee to reform management following a proposal from an outside director at the board of directors meeting on the 30th. He also pointed out that "Shukan Bunshun" has "needed to respond more appropriately" in response to the correction of its article.
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Hino Motors posts 265.3 billion yen deficit in first nine months due to certification fraud issue
2025-01-30 19:33:00
Hino Motors' financial results for the nine months from April to December last year showed a final deficit of 265.3 billion yen, the largest for that period, due to the impact of having to pay a huge fine to US authorities in connection with an emissions certification fraud issue.
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Seven & i Holdings' founding family requests large investment from major Thai conglomerate
2025-01-30 19:10:00
Seven & i Holdings, which has received a takeover bid from a major Canadian convenience store chain, has been asked by the founding family, who are proposing to delist the company, to make a new large-scale investment of several hundred billion yen from a major Thai conglomerate. The founding family is currently making arrangements to finalize the takeover bid within the fiscal year.
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Fuji TV sets up subcommittee to overhaul management; corrections in "Weekly Bunshun" criticized
2025-01-30 19:02:00
Regarding the series of issues surrounding Nakai Masahiro's troubles with women, Fuji Television President Kenji Shimizu said in an interview with reporters that the company decided to set up a new committee to reform management following a proposal from an outside director at the board of directors meeting on the 30th. He also pointed out that "Shukan Bunshun" has "needed to respond more appropriately" in response to the correction of its article.
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Yen rises as dollar selling moves in response to decline in US long-term interest rates
2025-01-30 18:27:00
On the 30th, the Tokyo foreign exchange market saw the yen rise in value as a result of a move to sell dollars in response to a decline in long-term interest rates in the United States.
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[Updated regularly] Fuji Television President Shimizu approves establishment of management renewal subcommittee
2025-01-30 18:06:00
Regarding the series of issues surrounding Nakai Masahiro's troubles with women, Fuji Television President Kenji Shimizu said in an interview with reporters that the company decided to set up a new committee to reform management following a proposal from an outside director at the board of directors meeting on the 30th. He also pointed out that "Shukan Bunshun" has "needed to respond more appropriately" in response to the correction of its article.
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Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan: "If the economy and prices move in line with forecast, we will consider raising interest rates"
2025-01-30 18:06:00
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Himino, who decided to raise interest rates further last week, gave a speech in Tokyo on the 30th and indicated that if the economy and prices continue to develop as expected, the bank will consider further interest rate hikes.
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Seven & i Holdings' founding family requests large investment from major Thai conglomerate
2025-01-30 18:03:00
Seven & i Holdings, which has received a takeover bid from a major Canadian convenience store chain, has been asked by the founding family, who are proposing to delist the company, to make a new large-scale investment of several hundred billion yen from a major Thai conglomerate. The founding family is currently making arrangements to finalize the takeover bid within the fiscal year.
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Japan Exchange Group CEO and others receive reduced compensation in response to former TSE employee takeover bid scandal
2025-01-30 17:54:00
Following the case in which a former Tokyo Stock Exchange employee was indicted without being placed in custody for allegedly passing on undisclosed information about a company's tender offer to his family, the Japan Exchange Group has decided to take disciplinary action against three executives, including reducing CEO Yamamichi Hiroki's monthly salary by 50% for two months.
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[Explanation] How will President Trump's economic policies affect life in Japan?
2025-01-30 17:24:00
Trump has been inaugurated as president for a second time. His policies may have a major impact on our lives. The key is tariffs. He plans to impose high tariffs on countries around the world, including China and Mexico. If the tariffs are actually raised, it has been pointed out that the performance of many Japanese companies will worsen, and this will also have an impact on prices and wage increases. Commentator Iida Kaori, who has specialised in covering the US economy, will provide a detailed explanation. *Information as of January 30th. (Video: 8 minutes 28 seconds)
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The Reiwa Provisional Council proposes "establishing an independent body in the Diet that will carry out long-term fiscal forecasts, etc."
2025-01-30 16:21:00
The Reiwa Provisional Council, which includes members from the business world and university professors, announced its recommendations on the 30th, calling for the creation of an independent organization in the Diet that would conduct long-term fiscal forecasts from a neutral standpoint, amid growing anxiety about the future among the younger generation.
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Stock prices slightly fluctuated. Buying orders for semiconductor-related stocks and selling orders for some export-related stocks.
2025-01-30 16:17:00
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 30th, while there were buy orders for semiconductor-related stocks, the appreciation of the yen in the foreign exchange market led to sell orders for some export-related stocks, resulting in little fluctuation in the Nikkei Stock Average.
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Takara Tomy to raise prices of "Tomica", "Plarail", etc. by more than 8%
2025-01-30 15:59:00
Takara Tomy, a major toy manufacturer, has announced that it will raise the prices of its main products, such as miniature cars and model trains, by an average of about 8% starting in March of this year.
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Japan Exchange Group CEO and others receive reduced compensation in response to former TSE employee takeover bid scandal
2025-01-30 15:50:00
Following the case in which a former Tokyo Stock Exchange employee was indicted without being placed in custody for allegedly passing on undisclosed information about a company's tender offer to his family, the Japan Exchange Group has decided to take disciplinary action against three executives, including reducing CEO Yamamichi Hiroki's monthly salary by 50% for two months.
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Toyota Group's global sales total more than 10.82 million units, topping the list for the fifth consecutive year
2025-01-30 15:40:00
Toyota Motor Corporation announced that its group-wide global car sales for the past year totaled more than 10.82 million units, surpassing Germany's Volkswagen to become the world's top car manufacturer for the fifth consecutive year.
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Toyota Group's global sales total more than 10.82 million units, topping the list for the fifth consecutive year
2025-01-30 14:09:00
Toyota Motor Corporation announced that its group-wide global car sales for the past year totaled more than 10.82 million units, surpassing Germany's Volkswagen to become the world's top car manufacturer for the fifth consecutive year.
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Ministry of Finance maintains national economic assessment: "Weakness in some areas, gradual recovery"
2025-01-30 13:05:00
The Ministry of Finance summarized the current state of the economy across the country and maintained its assessment that the economy is "recovering slowly, although some areas are showing signs of weakness."
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Tesla's operating profit falls 23% due to falling EV sales prices
2025-01-30 13:04:00
In its financial results for the three months ending December last year, American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla reported a 23% decrease in operating profit compared to the same period the previous year, due in part to falling sales prices of EVs.
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Microsoft and Meta report increased revenue and profits in October-December quarter, with strong performance thanks to the use of AI
2025-01-30 12:27:00
American IT giant Microsoft and former Facebook's Meta announced their financial results for the three months ending last month, with both reporting increased revenue and profits. The use of AI (artificial intelligence), for which they are making huge investments, has led to strong performance.
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Stock prices move slightly: "US Fed postpones interest rate cut as expected"
2025-01-30 12:21:00
On the Tokyo stock market on the 30th, the Nikkei average fluctuated little as the US Federal Reserve's decision to postpone interest rate cuts was taken as expected.
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Fuji TV and parent company board of directors to discuss future management structure
2025-01-30 12:02:00
In response to the series of issues surrounding Nakai Masahiro's troubles with women, Fuji Television and its parent company will hold a board meeting on the 30th to begin full-scale discussions aimed at rebuilding governance and restoring trust. With regard to the selection of new management, which is the focus of attention, the seven outside directors have shown an active involvement in the matter by making recommendations to the company, and the board meeting on the 30th is expected to discuss the future shape of the management structure based on the recommendations of the outside directors.
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Microsoft and Meta report increased revenue and profits in October-December quarter, with strong performance thanks to the use of AI
2025-01-30 11:37:00
American IT giant Microsoft and former Facebook's Meta announced their financial results for the three months ending last month, with both reporting increased revenue and profits. The use of AI (artificial intelligence), for which they are making huge investments, has led to strong performance.
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Bank of Canada cuts interest rates amid fears of Trump administration tariffs
2025-01-30 06:07:00
The Bank of Canada has decided to cut the policy interest rate by 0.25% as the Trump administration of the United States has indicated its intention to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. It appears that the Bank is growing increasingly wary of tariffs, stating that the resilience of the Canadian economy would be tested if broad and significant tariffs were imposed.
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Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism plans to issue warning to major logistics companies over forcing drivers to wait for cargo
2025-01-30 06:01:00
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided to soon issue a recommendation to a major logistics company to immediately correct the situation, as it is suspected of forcing its client truck drivers to wait for long periods of time for cargo. As the tight logistics situation becomes a major issue, the ministry is stepping up its monitoring of malicious treatment of vulnerable businesses.
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Can Fuji TV and its parent company's board of directors chart a course for recovery?
2025-01-30 05:37:00
In response to the series of issues surrounding Nakai Masahiro's troubles with women, seven outside directors of Fuji Television's parent company have recommended that the company take urgent steps to rebuild governance and restore trust, and have indicated their intention to actively participate in the selection of new management. Fuji Television and the parent company are expected to hold a board meeting on the 30th to discuss the proposal, and the focus going forward will be on whether they can set a course for rebuilding the management structure.
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