Reuters Asia Business

By Makiko Yamazaki, Takaya Yamaguchi and Yoshifumi Takemoto TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s minority ruling coalition on Friday failed to secure support from a key opposition party for its tax reform plans, jeopardising Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s budget agenda for next year. Without opposition support for the plans, which form the basis of next year’s state budget, …

Japan’s ruling camp fails to secure opposition support for tax reforms Read More »

By Kantaro Komiya and Maki Shiraki TOKYO (Reuters) – The top business risk of the Trump presidency for heavy-duty equipment maker Komatsu is not the tariffs he has threatened, but Canada’s potential retaliatory duties on American-made mining machines, the head of the Japanese company said. The view of a global manufacturer flags the possible knock-on …

Canada’s retaliation for Trump tariffs is biggest concern, says Japan’s Komatsu Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Consumer inflation in Tokyo likely accelerated in December on higher food costs and after the government’s suspension of its gas and electricity subsidies, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. The expected pickup could prod the Bank of Japan, which decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 0.25% on Thursday, to raise borrowing …

Tokyo inflation likely accelerated on suspended energy subsidies: Reuters poll Read More »

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China left its benchmark lending rates unchanged as expected at the monthly fixing on Friday. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Persistent deflationary pressure and tepid credit demand call for more stimulus to aid the broad economy, but narrowing interest margin on the back of fast falling yields and a weakening yuan limit the scope for …

China leaves rates unchanged, weak yuan limits easing Read More »

By Anton Bridge, Makiko Yamazaki INO, Japan (Reuters) -Over the last decade, Masato Shiota brought his papermaking business back from the brink, paying down debt and buying machinery to automate some production. But he struggles to find workers to keep output at full capacity. “We have three machines but only have two running on any …

Mind the labour gap: Worker crunch piles pressure on small-town Japan Read More »