Economic news(2025/04/23)
The NY Dow rose by more than $1,100 at one point on hopes of easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China
2025-04-23 23:17:00
On the 23rd, the New York Stock Exchange saw buying orders leading the way, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by more than $1,100 from the previous day. The Wall Street Journal, a major American newspaper, reported that the Trump administration was considering easing the tariffs imposed on China, raising hopes that trade friction between the United States and China would ease.
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Why are American cars not selling?
2025-04-23 23:03:00
The Trump administration in the United States has raised concerns about the fact that American-made cars are hardly selling in the Japanese market, and has criticized Japanese car safety standards, claiming that they are "non-tariff barriers."
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Daishi Hokuetsu FG and Gunma Bank finalize basic agreement for business integration
2025-04-23 20:25:00
It has been learned through interviews with people involved that Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group, which owns Niigata Prefecture's Daishi Hokuetsu Bank, and Gunma Prefecture's Gunma Bank have decided to reach a basic agreement to merge their businesses. As competition among financial institutions intensifies in the "world of interest rates," it is expected that other regional banks will also become more active in the future in their efforts to restructure.
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Ministry to conduct audit after 70% of surveys find inappropriate roll calls for postal workers
2025-04-23 20:20:00
Regarding the issue of post office delivery staff not being asked to perform roll calls to check whether they had been drinking as required by law, Japan Post conducted a nationwide investigation and found through interviews with relevant parties that roll calls were not being conducted properly at over 2,000 collection and delivery centers, including post offices. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism received a report summarizing the results of the investigation from Japan Post on the 23rd, and plans to have local transport bureaus examine the report and then conduct audits of post offices and collection and delivery centers in accordance with the Trucking Business Act.
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Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association expresses concern over Trump administration considering tariffs on pharmaceuticals
2025-04-23 19:55:00
Regarding the Trump administration's consideration of imposing new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, Hiroaki Ueno, chairman of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, which represents pharmaceutical manufacturers, expressed concern that this could put pressure on manufacturers' profits and have an impact on pharmaceutical development.
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EU fines Apple and Meta for “violating digital markets law”
2025-04-23 19:54:00
On the 23rd, the European Union announced that it had imposed fines on American IT giants Apple and Meta for violating the Digital Markets Act, which aims to ensure fair competition in the digital market. This is the first time that fines have been imposed since the law went into full effect in March last year.
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Third bidding begins for stockpiled rice, allowing wholesalers to buy and sell between each other
2025-04-23 19:30:00
The third round of auctions for stockpiled rice by the government to facilitate smooth distribution of rice began on the 23rd. The tender covers 100,000 tons, and from this round, wholesalers will be allowed to buy and sell between each other to make it easier to distribute stockpiled rice. Attention is focused on whether this will lead to price stability.
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EU fines Apple and Meta for “violating digital markets law”
2025-04-23 19:14:00
The European Union announced that it had imposed fines on American IT giants Apple and Meta for violating the Digital Markets Act, which ensures fair competition in the digital market. Apple will be fined 500 million euros, or about 80 billion yen, and Meta will be fined 200 million euros, or about 32 billion yen. This is the first time that fines have been imposed since the law went into full operation in March last year.
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Yen falls by more than 1 yen, relief following President Trump's remarks
2025-04-23 19:01:00
On the 23rd in the Tokyo foreign exchange market, a sense of relief spread following President Trump's statement that he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, leading to a trend of buying dollars and selling yen, causing the yen to fall by more than 1 yen.
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Shanghai Motor Show opens: Trump tariffs put attention on Chinese market
2025-04-23 18:56:00
The world's largest motor show has begun in Shanghai, China. Automakers from Japan and abroad have been showing off the latest models of "new energy vehicles" such as EVs. As the fierce trade friction continues due to the "Trump tariffs," there is a growing movement to strengthen business in China, the world's largest automobile market. We interviewed Japanese manufacturers who are struggling in China, where the shift to EVs is progressing rapidly, to find out if there are any strategies to make a comeback.
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Daishi Hokuetsu FG and Gunma Bank finalize basic agreement for business integration
2025-04-23 18:24:00
It has been learned from interviews with people involved that Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group, which owns Niigata Prefecture's Daishi Hokuetsu Bank, and Gunma Prefecture's Gunma Bank have decided to reach a basic agreement to merge. They are considering bringing the two banks under a holding company, and are expected to announce the deal on the 24th. If the merger goes ahead, the combined deposit volume as of the end of March last year would be approximately 17 trillion yen, making it one of the largest regional bank groups in Japan.
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Stock prices surge as President Trump's comments spread a sense of relief
2025-04-23 18:15:00
On the 23rd, the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw the Nikkei average rise sharply as investors felt a sense of relief after President Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Powell.
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Ministry to conduct audit after 70% of surveys find inappropriate roll calls for postal workers
2025-04-23 17:46:00
Regarding the issue of post office delivery staff not being asked to perform roll calls to check whether they had been drinking as required by law, Japan Post conducted a nationwide investigation and found through interviews with relevant parties that roll calls were not being conducted properly at over 2,000 collection and delivery centers, including post offices. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism received a report summarizing the results of the investigation from Japan Post on the 23rd, and plans to have local transport bureaus examine the report and then conduct audits of post offices and collection and delivery centers in accordance with the Trucking Business Act.
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Improper roll calls for postal workers found in 70% of surveys at more than 2,000 locations
2025-04-23 17:12:00
Regarding the issue of post office delivery staff not being asked to perform roll calls to check whether they had been drinking as required by law, Japan Post conducted a nationwide investigation and found through interviews with relevant parties that roll calls were not being conducted properly at more than 2,000 collection and delivery centers, including post offices. The company plans to report the results of its investigation to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on the 23rd and make them public.
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Taxi-hailing apps also restrict use of other companies' apps: Japan Fair Trade Commission investigation
2025-04-23 16:35:00
The results of an investigation by the Japan Fair Trade Commission into the actual transactions between taxi "ride-hailing app" operators and taxi companies have been compiled. It has been reported that there have been cases that lead to restrictions on the use of other companies' apps, and the Japan Fair Trade Commission has stated that it will take strict action if any cases that pose legal problems are found.
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Japan Gas Association: "Room for expansion of U.S. LNG imports may be decided after considering costs"
2025-04-23 16:16:00
Regarding American-produced liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has been attracting attention in relation to the Japan-U.S. negotiations over U.S. tariff measures, Japan Gas Association Chairman Takashi Uchida expressed the view that while there is room for increased imports, costs must be taken into consideration when making a decision.
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Stock prices surge as President Trump's comments spread a sense of relief
2025-04-23 15:57:00
On the 23rd, the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw the Nikkei average rise sharply as investors felt a sense of relief after President Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Powell.
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4,000 people temporarily stranded at Yumeshima Station, nearest to the Expo, on the night of the 22nd; response to be examined
2025-04-23 15:26:00
The Osaka Metro Chuo Line, the only rail route to the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, suspended operations on the night of the 22nd, leaving approximately 4,000 people stranded at Yumeshima Station, the closest station to the site. The Expo Association revealed that it only became aware of the suspension of operations about 30 minutes later, and will review its response, including how it shared information with Osaka Metro.
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Gasoline prices fall for the first time in four weeks to 185.1 yen per liter
2025-04-23 15:22:00
The nationwide average retail price of regular gasoline was 185.1 yen per liter as of the 21st, marking the first decrease in four weeks.
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Economy Minister Akazawa's "bowling ball test" not discussed at Trump meeting
2025-04-23 15:04:00
Regarding U.S. President Trump's social media post citing "Japan's bowling ball tests" as an example of a "non-tariff barrier" regarding automobile safety standards, Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa stated that the issue was not discussed during his recent meeting with the president.
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Former Prime Minister Kishida proposes the introduction of "Platinum NISA" for seniors only
2025-04-23 13:39:00
Regarding the preferential tax system "NISA," former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party proposed to Prime Minister Ishiba that a system be introduced that would expand the range of financial products available to seniors.
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Mitsubishi UFJ Bank's online banking system temporarily malfunctions, then restored
2025-04-23 13:36:00
Mitsubishi UFJ Bank's personal internet banking system experienced a system malfunction from around 10:30 a.m. on the 23rd, making the service unavailable, but the bank announced that it had been restored just after 12:30 p.m. The bank is investigating the cause of the malfunction and commented, "We are very sorry for the inconvenience."
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Stock prices surge as President Trump's comments spread a sense of relief
2025-04-23 12:04:00
On the 23rd, the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw a large rise in the Nikkei average as a sense of relief spread after President Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Powell. In addition, in the foreign exchange market, there was a widespread movement to buy back dollars, and the yen temporarily weakened to the 143 yen range per dollar.
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Third bidding begins for stockpiled rice, allowing wholesalers to buy and sell between each other
2025-04-23 11:45:00
The third round of auctions for stockpiled rice by the government to facilitate smooth distribution of rice began on the 23rd. The tender covers 100,000 tons, and from this time, wholesalers will be allowed to trade with each other to make it easier to distribute stockpiled rice. Attention is focused on whether this will lead to price stability.
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Tesla's third-month earnings report: net profit down 70% year-on-year, likely due to boycotts
2025-04-23 11:33:00
Tesla, an American electric vehicle manufacturer, reported a 70% drop in final profits for the three months ending last month compared to the same period last year, a significant drop in profits. This is thought to be due to the boycotts spreading in Europe and the US triggered by CEO Elon Musk's political comments and actions.
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Improper roll calls for postal workers found in 70% of surveys at more than 2,000 locations
2025-04-23 11:28:00
Regarding the issue of post office delivery staff not being asked to perform roll calls to check whether they had been drinking as required by law, Japan Post conducted a nationwide investigation and found through interviews with relevant parties that roll calls were not being conducted properly at more than 2,000 collection and delivery centers, including post offices. The company plans to report the results of its investigation to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on the 23rd and make them public.
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Stock prices rise by more than 900 yen temporarily; Trump's remarks lead to a rise in buying orders
2025-04-23 09:14:00
On the 23rd, the Nikkei average rose by more than 900 yen at one point in the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In addition to the major stock indexes rising sharply on the 22nd in the New York Stock Exchange due to expectations of an easing of trade friction between the US and China, President Trump's statement that he has no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Powell caused the yen to weaken against the dollar in the foreign exchange market, leading to a rise in buy orders in the Tokyo market as well.
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The yen temporarily fell to the 143 yen range per dollar due to President Trump's remarks
2025-04-23 09:02:00
On the 23rd in the Tokyo foreign exchange market, US President Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, which eased concerns over the Fed's future monetary policy management and led to a rapid buying of dollars, with the yen temporarily dropping to the 143 yen per dollar range. A market insider commented, "There had been a recent sell-off of dollars due to concerns that President Trump's decision to fire Chairman Powell would undermine the Fed's independence as the guardian of the currency, but President Trump's denial of the firing led to a sudden buy-back of dollars. However, with important events coming up, such as the G20 summit and a meeting between the US and Japanese finance ministers, it is unlikely that the movement will be one-sided."
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Former Finance Ministry official in charge of international affairs at the Ministry of Finance talks about the focus of Japan-U.S. currency negotiations
2025-04-23 08:15:00
A meeting between the finance ministers of Japan and the United States, with the topic of foreign exchange, is expected to take place in Washington on the 24th local time. We spoke to Tatsuo Yamazaki, who served as the top financial officer in the Ministry of Finance's international department from 2014 to 2015 and has experience in international negotiations such as market intervention, about the focus of the Japan-U.S. negotiations over foreign exchange.
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Tesla's third-month earnings report: net profit down 70% year-on-year, possibly due to a worsening image
2025-04-23 07:15:00
American electric car maker Tesla announced on the 22nd that sales for the three months ending last month were down 9% compared to the same period last year to $19.335 billion, or roughly 2.7 trillion yen. In addition, final profits fell 70% compared to the same period last year to $409 million, or roughly 57.8 billion yen, a significant drop in profits. This is thought to be due to a deterioration in the brand's image around the world triggered by CEO Elon Musk's political actions and other factors.
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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche to invest $50 billion in US over next five years
2025-04-23 05:48:00
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has said it will invest $50 billion in the US over the next five years, a move that comes after other major pharmaceutical companies announced US investment plans this month in what appears to be a response to the Trump administration's consideration of tariffs on medicines.
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Japan-U.S. negotiations over tariff measures to be considered in response to increased rice imports from the U.S.
2025-04-23 05:26:00
Regarding rice, which is one of the focal points in the Japan-US negotiations over US tariff measures, the government is considering a plan to increase imports from the US within the scope of the existing system known as "minimum access." Some have suggested that this should be done in light of the agreement reached in previous negotiations to set import quotas for the US, and adjustments will be made in earnest in the future.
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Japan-U.S. negotiations over tariff measures consider proposal to increase bioethanol imports
2025-04-23 05:15:00
In preparation for the Japan-U.S. negotiations over U.S. tariffs, it has been learned that the government is considering a plan to increase imports of "bioethanol," a fuel for automobiles, etc., from the U.S. The U.S. is a major producer of corn-based bioethanol, and is calling on Japan to expand its use of the fuel.
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US tariffs affect over 80% of companies, 40% consider passing on price hikes to consumers, JETRO survey
2025-04-23 04:09:00
A survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on the impact of US tariffs revealed that the impact has spread to over 80% of companies. As a countermeasure to the tariffs, nearly 40% of companies are considering "passing on price increases to customers."
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Listed companies to begin announcing financial results in earnest; U.S. tariffs could affect business outlook
2025-04-23 03:58:00
Listed companies are about to begin announcing their financial results for the past fiscal year. The tariff policies of the Trump administration in the United States have made it difficult to predict the future, and some are speculating that some companies may not be able to provide concrete figures other than conservative forecasts for future business performance that will be presented along with the financial results.
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The New York Dow rose by more than $1,100 at one point on hopes of easing trade tensions
2025-04-23 02:10:00
On the 22nd, the New York stock market saw a surge in buying orders due to expectations of an easing of trade friction between the United States and China, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by more than $1,100 at one point.
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IMF cuts world economic outlook by 0.5 percentage points to 2.8% due to trade tensions
2025-04-23 00:39:00
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest forecast for the world economy, lowering its forecast for this year's economic growth rate by 0.5 percentage points from the previous forecast in January to 2.8%. This is due to trade friction triggered by tariff measures by the Trump administration, and Japan's growth rate is also lower by 0.5 percentage points from the previous forecast to 0.6%.
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