Economic news(2025/04/30)
US GDP growth rate from January to March: minus 0.3% on an annualized basis; NY Dow falls
2025-04-30 23:16:00
The United States' GDP (gross domestic product) for January to March of this year was announced, and the growth rate compared to the previous three months was minus 0.3% on an annualized basis. This is a significant slowdown from the previous period, which saw positive growth of 2.4%, and the first negative growth in 12 periods since January to March 2022, which strongly reflects the impact of the Trump administration's tariff measures.
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Eurozone GDP growth rate in January-March increased by 0.4%, expanding for the first time in two quarters
2025-04-30 22:40:00
The GDP growth rate of the euro zone, including Germany and France, from January to March this year was up 0.4% compared to the previous three months. This is the first expansion in two quarters, but the economic outlook remains uncertain due to the US tariff measures.
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Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation: System failure on the 29th delayed payment processing on the 30th
2025-04-30 22:04:00
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation revealed that due to a system failure that occurred on the 29th, it was unable to keep up with the processing of transfers and corporate payments received on the 30th, and that some may not be processed by the 30th.
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TEPCO Holdings' financial results show cash flow in the negative for seventh consecutive year; improvement is a challenge
2025-04-30 22:02:00
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced in its financial statements for the last fiscal year that its "free cash flow," which indicates the balance of funds on hand, has been negative for the seventh consecutive year due to rising costs for nuclear power plant safety measures and power grid construction. Improving the balance of income is an issue to be addressed in order to cover the costs of compensation for the nuclear accident and decommissioning the reactors.
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U.S. January-March GDP growth rate: minus 0.3% on an annualized basis, as tariffs have a significant impact
2025-04-30 21:45:00
The United States' GDP (gross domestic product) for January to March of this year was announced, and the growth rate compared to the previous three months was minus 0.3% on an annualized basis. This is a significant slowdown from the previous period, which saw positive growth of 2.4%, and the first negative growth in 12 periods since January to March 2022, which strongly reflects the impact of the Trump administration's tariff measures.
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Tokyo Electron forecasts record sales and profits for this fiscal year
2025-04-30 20:33:00
Tokyo Electron, a major semiconductor manufacturing equipment manufacturer, has announced that it expects to achieve record highs in both sales and final profits for the current fiscal year (2025). However, the company has not factored the tariff policy of the Trump administration in the United States into its earnings forecast, as it is currently unclear, and will continue to closely monitor its impact in the future.
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Fuji Media Holdings predicts first final deficit, President Kanemitsu to step down
2025-04-30 20:22:00
Fuji Media Holdings, the parent company of Fuji Television, announced on the 30th that it has revised down its net profit forecast for the fiscal year 2024, announcing that it expects to post a net loss for the first time since becoming a certified broadcasting holding company in 2008.
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Tokyo Electron: "We are closely monitoring the impact of tariff policies" in its fiscal year earnings forecast
2025-04-30 19:48:00
Tokyo Electron, a major semiconductor manufacturing equipment manufacturer, has announced that it expects to see increases in both sales and final profits for the current fiscal year (2025). However, the company has not factored the tariff policy of the Trump administration in the U.S. into its earnings forecast, as it is currently unclear, and will continue to closely monitor its impact in the future.
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Fuji Media Holdings predicts first final deficit, President Kanemitsu to step down
2025-04-30 19:47:00
Fuji Media Holdings, the parent company of Fuji Television, announced on the 30th that it has revised down its net profit forecast for the fiscal year 2024, announcing that it expects to post a net loss for the first time since becoming a certified broadcasting holding company in 2008.
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Bank of Thailand decides to cut policy interest rate by 0.25%; concerns about economic slowdown
2025-04-30 19:32:00
On the 30th, the Bank of Thailand decided to lower the policy interest rate by 0.25%, in response to growing concerns about an economic slowdown, as the tariff policies of the US Trump administration will have a serious impact on the global economy.
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Mitsui OSK Lines forecasts 60% fall in net profit this fiscal year due to US tariff policy and other factors
2025-04-30 19:24:00
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, a major shipping company, has revealed that it expects its final profit for the current fiscal year to be reduced by 60% compared to the previous fiscal year due to the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States.
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Fuji TV and parent company report measures to prevent recurrence of sexual violence cases to Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
2025-04-30 19:02:00
Following a third-party committee's determination that a former female Fuji Television announcer was the victim of sexual violence by Nakai Masahiro and its harsh review of management's responsibility and corporate culture, Fuji Television and its parent company reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on the 30th measures to prevent recurrence, which include dismantling and reorganizing the programming department.
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Welcia Holdings and Tsuruha Holdings' business integration plan receives "conditional approval" from the Japan Fair Trade Commission
2025-04-30 18:24:00
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has reviewed the planned business integration between Welcia Holdings, the largest drugstore chain in Japan, and Tsuruha Holdings, the second largest, and announced that it will approve the integration on the condition that the two companies sell their stores to other companies in some areas, such as Aomori and Tottori prefectures.
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Fuji Media Holdings predicts first final deficit, President Kanemitsu to step down
2025-04-30 18:19:00
Fuji Media Holdings, the parent company of Fuji Television, announced on the 30th that it has revised down its net profit forecast for the fiscal year 2024, announcing that it expects to post a net loss for the first time since becoming a certified broadcasting holding company in 2008.
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Yen exchange rate rises amid persistent fears of a US economic recession
2025-04-30 18:18:00
On the Tokyo foreign exchange market on the 30th, the day after the holiday, the yen rose in value as there was a move to sell dollars and buy yen amid persistent concerns about a US economic recession.
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Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: 1.9% of rice purchased at auction in March has been delivered to consumer sites
2025-04-30 18:04:00
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that of the approximately 210,000 tons of stockpiled rice that was auctioned off in March, only 1.9% had reached retailers and other consumer sites by April 13. They say it may be taking a certain amount of time for contracts between businesses to be concluded.
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Bank of Japan begins monetary policy meeting; may consider keeping policy interest rate unchanged
2025-04-30 17:58:00
The Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting began on April 30. There is a growing view within the Bank of Japan that future economic growth and inflation rates will be lower than previously predicted, taking into account the impact of the Trump administration's tariff measures, and it is expected that the Bank of Japan will consider keeping the policy interest rate unchanged.
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Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: 1.9% of rice purchased at auction in March has been delivered to consumer sites
2025-04-30 16:45:00
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that of the approximately 210,000 tons of stockpiled rice that was auctioned off in March, only 1.9% had reached retailers and other consumer sites by April 13. They say it may be taking a certain amount of time for contracts between businesses to be concluded.
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Stock price reaches 36,000 yen for the first time in about a month as US announces reduction in auto tariffs
2025-04-30 16:26:00
On the Tokyo stock market on the 30th, after the holiday, the Nikkei average recovered to the 36,000 yen range for the first time in about a month as concerns about an economic recession eased somewhat after the Trump administration announced that it would take measures to reduce the burden of tariffs on manufacturers producing automobiles in the United States.
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Cyber attack on "Hoken Minaoshi Honpo" - 5.1 million pieces of information leaked
2025-04-30 14:26:00
The company that operates the major insurance agency "Hoken Minaoshi Honpo" has announced that it has been hit by a cyber attack using a ransomware virus, resulting in the leakage of approximately 5.1 million pieces of personal information, including the names and addresses of customers who had signed insurance contracts.
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China's April manufacturing business confidence index worsens sharply amid trade friction over additional tariffs
2025-04-30 12:52:00
China's April manufacturing business confidence index has deteriorated significantly since last month, falling below the 50 mark for the first time in three months. As trade friction intensifies with the Trump administration's imposition of additional tariffs, new orders are declining and companies are rapidly becoming more cautious.
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Toyota and Waymo sign basic agreement to collaborate on self-driving vehicle development
2025-04-30 12:32:00
Toyota Motor Corporation announced that it has reached a basic agreement to collaborate with Waymo, a subsidiary of the parent company of the American IT giant Google, which develops autonomous driving technology. The two companies will collaborate on vehicle development and other areas to accelerate the spread of autonomous driving.
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Food prices to rise for over 14,000 items in 2025 due to rising raw material prices and labor shortages
2025-04-30 12:04:00
A private research company has found that over 14,000 food items will see price increases this year, surpassing the number of items that saw price increases in the whole of last year. Price increases across a wide range of items continue against the backdrop of soaring raw material prices and labor shortages.
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Stock prices: Small price movements, mixed buying and selling
2025-04-30 12:04:00
On April 30th, the day after the holiday, the Tokyo stock market saw the Nikkei average fluctuate little with a mix of buying and selling.
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March industrial production index falls 1.1% from previous month, first decline in two months
2025-04-30 11:22:00
The March index of industrial production, which indicates corporate production activity, fell for the first time in two months due to a decrease in production of passenger cars and other products.
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March industrial production index falls 1.1% from previous month, first decline in two months
2025-04-30 09:01:00
The index of industrial production in March, which indicates corporate production activity, was 101.1, down 1.1% from the previous month, with 2020 as the base year. This is the first decline in two months, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has maintained its assessment of corporate production activity as "advancing and retreating."
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Volvo announces US production expansion and cost-cutting measures
2025-04-30 07:40:00
Swedish automaker Volvo Cars has announced that it will strengthen production in the United States in light of the Trump administration's tariff measures, and will implement cost-cutting measures worth more than 260 billion yen in order to improve its performance.
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A surge in efforts to revive company housing and employee dormitories: Employee satisfaction is the defining feature
2025-04-30 07:25:00
Companies are increasingly trying to revive company housing and employee dormitories, which have been declining in number until now. The reason behind this is the desire to secure human resources, and it is characterized by the desire to increase employee satisfaction.
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Tokyo Stock Exchange asks listed companies to lower price per 100 shares
2025-04-30 07:23:00
In order to create an environment where individuals can invest more easily, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has requested listed companies to lower the price per 100 shares, which is the trading unit for stocks. It is likely that "stock splits," which divide stocks into multiple shares and lower the price per share, will become more common among listed companies in the future.
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New services such as "no extra charge for video streaming" on mobile phone plans are becoming more common
2025-04-30 06:40:00
Major mobile phone companies are actively trying to attract customers by incorporating entertainment services, such as introducing new pricing plans that allow users to watch sports video streaming at no extra charge.
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Sumitomo Mitsui Bank announces full recovery after system failure
2025-04-30 00:28:00
On the 29th, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation announced that all ATMs had been restored following a system failure that caused them to be unavailable at 47 locations, mainly in the Kansai region.
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