Reuters Asia Business

By Satoshi Sugiyama and Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor and Honda Motor were upbeat about their full-year profit prospects on Wednesday as tight vehicle supplies caused by a chip shortage allowed Japan’s two biggest automakers to charge their customers more. The Japanese carmakers are also benefiting from a weaker yen that raised the …

Toyota and Honda upbeat on profits as customers pay more for scarce cars Read More »

By Sam Nussey TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp said on Wednesday there was no link between Alibaba registering a U.S. share facility and any specific plans to sell down its stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant. SoftBank’s shares jumped almost 6% in Tokyo, while Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares were up almost 7%. “The …

SoftBank says no stake sale plans linked to Alibaba U.S. filing Read More »

By Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s central bank left its key interest rate at a record low on Wednesday, seeking to maintain support for a fragile economic recovery, and ruled out a need to adjust monetary policy for now despite a jump in inflation. The Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) monetary policy …

Thai central bank holds fire again, rates likely to stay on hold Read More »

By Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) -China’s “zero-COVID” restrictions could weigh on world growth by prolonging supply chain disruptions and global inflationary pressures, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, warning of the broadening fallout from rising Omicron variant cases. Board member Toyoaki Nakamura also said it was premature for the BOJ to tighten monetary policy, as …

China’s ‘zero-COVID’ curbs may hurt global growth, says BOJ policymaker Read More »

ZURICH (Reuters) – Climate finance specialist South Pole has won Singapore’s Temasek and the investment arm of Salesforce.Com Inc as minority investors after a new round of funding, the Swiss group said on Wednesday. “Temasek and Salesforce Ventures will reinforce South Pole’s strong commitment to scaling up climate action in Asia and North America respectively,” …

Temasek, Salesforce.Com invest in Swiss climate specialist South Pole Read More »

By Takahiko Wada and Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) – A surge in deposits caused by the government’s huge cash payouts is straining some Japanese lenders, complicating the central bank’s efforts to mitigate the side-effects of its negative interest rate policy. Industry leader MUFG Bank was charged negative rates last month on deposits parked with the …

Japan’s COVID payouts strain lenders, expose BOJ policy flaws Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Somaliland has “huge” investment potential in untapped oil and gas reserves, the foreign minister of Somalia’s breakaway region told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, pitching investment opportunities on a high-profile visit. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition for its independence. The region has …

Somaliland pitches ‘huge’ oil and gas potential during Taiwan trip Read More »

By Paul Sandle and John McCrank LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) -SoftBank’s decision to list British chip designer Arm is good news for New York, bad news for London and the best option left for the Japanese group after the collapse of its blockbuster sale to Nvidia. Arm, whose technology underpins the global smartphone industry, is most …

SoftBank’s choice of New York for Arm listing deals a blow to London Read More »