China imports from N. Korea sink as coal ban bites
BEIJING (Reuters) — China’s imports of North Korean goods in April fell below $100 million to the lowest in nearly three years, data showed Tuesday, after China stopped buying coal from the isola...
Business
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Toyota, tech firms explore blockchain for driverless cars
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Toyota Research Institute, a wholly owned unit of Toyota Motor North America, said Monday it has teamed up with MIT Media lab and five other companies to explore blockchain tec...
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Real wages increase for 1st time in 6 years in FY16
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Workers in Japan saw an increase in their price-adjusted real wages for the first time in six years in fiscal 2016, a government report said Tuesday. According to the revised ...
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Nokia settles patent dispute with Apple
HELSINKI (Reuters) — Nokia has settled its patent dispute with Apple and signed a business collaboration deal with the U.S. giant, the Finnish firm said Tuesday, sending its shares sharply higher. ...
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Mexico raises economic outlook despite Trump fears
MEXICO CITY (AFP-Jiji) —Mexico raised its economic growth outlook on Monday, saying it performed better than expected in the first quarter despite fears it would suffer from U.S. President Donald T...
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Cuba’s 1st ultra-luxury hotel opens in Havana
HAVANA (AFP-Jiji) — Cuba’s first ultra-luxury hotel opened its doors Monday in Havana, with guests paying up to $2,500 a night to stay in five-star comfort on the Communist island. The “Gran H...
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Saudi Arabia, Iraq agree to extend oil output cut for 9 mths
BAGHDAD/VIENNA (Reuters) — OPEC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iraq agreed on Monday on the need to extend a global cut in oil supply by nine months in an effort to prop up crude prices, removing a p...
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U.S. Big 3 to steer clear of Tokyo Motor show again
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Big Three U.S. automakers will skip the Tokyo Motor Show again, raising doubts about their interest in the Japanese market, which U.S. President Donald Trump has promised t...
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Broader Asian pact urged amid rise of protectionism
HANOI (Jiji Press) — Japan, China, South Korea and 13 other countries on Monday reaffirmed the “urgency” of concluding their talks on a broader Asian free trade deal called Regional Comprehensi...
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Creative Japan / Writing utensils rewrite classic assumptions
This is the fifth and final installment of a series.
A Japanese-designed ballpoint pen has become a worldwide hit thanks to ink that can be erased when a mistake is made.
In a London shopping di...
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Sony chief promises profitability
TOKYO (AP) — Sony’s leader promised a comeback for the electronics and entertainment company having its best profitability in two decades.
“We are a company that moves people,” said Chief Exe...
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Low budget request for Mexico border wall
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump is asking Congress for $1.6 billion to begin building a wall along the border with Mexico, far short of the amount needed for a project sharply cr...
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Japan, WTO oppose protectionism
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The government and the World Trade Organization released a joint statement on Monday expressing opposition to protectionism. Given highly developed global value chains, “pro...
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Creative Japan / Carbon fiber still going strong
This is the fourth installment of a series.
“Do you have Daiwa or Shimano?”
A male customer asks this questiom at a Dunia Pancing fishing gear shop in Jakarta, and a sales clerk hands him a bla...
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TPP countries not in sync on moving ahead without U.S.
HANOI — Japan and the 10 other participating countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal affirmed at a ministerial meeting on Sunday they will continue their collaboration to bring th...
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Cracks emerge over China-led RCEP
HANOI (Reuters) — Disagreements between Asian countries over a China-backed free trade deal surfaced at talks on Monday, raising questions over a target for concluding negotiations by the end of the...
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Trump budget eyes big welfare cuts
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Japan logs trade surplus for 3 straight months
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan logged a customs-cleared trade surplus of ¥481.7 billion in April, staying in the black for the third straight month, the Finance Ministry said Monday. But the figure w...
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Ford to replace CEO Fields
DETROIT (Reuters) — Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Mark Fields is set to leave the carmaker as part of a shake-up that includes other top executive changes as the company’s shares hover near a 52...
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Strong performance of U.S. equities pushes up Tokyo stocks
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Stocks gained ground on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Monday, following Wall Street’s advance on Friday. The 225-issue Nikkei average climbed 87.52 points, or 0.45 percent, to fi...
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China’s Q2 GDP growth forecast at around 6.8%
SHANGHAI (Reuters) — China’s economy will likely expand around 6.8 percent in the second quarter of 2017, the State Information Center said in an article published in the state-owned China Securi...
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11 TPP states look to effectuate pact soon
HANOI (Jiji Press) — Ministers from Japan and 10 other signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, excluding the United States, which has pulled out of the pact, agreed Sunday to ...
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Creative Japan / Japanese diapers popular for quality
This is the third installment of a series.
In the disposable diaper section of an upscale supermarket in Shanghai, China, a large array of Japan-manufactured products are lined up, including Unicha...
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SoftBank announces tech fund with $93 bil. of capital
RIYADH (Reuters) — The world’s largest private equity fund, backed by Japan’s SoftBank Group and Saudi Arabia’s main sovereign wealth fund, said on Saturday it had raised over $93 billion to i...
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Death of Ailes reveals Fox News at crossroads
NEW YORK (AP) — On the surface, the Fox News Channel Roger Ailes left behind would seem to be thriving. Profits are strong, and it has spent much of 2017 as the most-watched network in all of cable...
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Govt OK’s TEPCO’s turnaround program
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The government has given the green light to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s new turnaround program that mainly seeks to promote the realignment and consolidatio...
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Microsoft works to make AI more mainstream
SEATTLE (AFP-Jiji) — Microsoft unveiled new tools intended to democratize artificial intelligence by enabling machine smarts to be built into software from smartphone games to factory floors. The U...
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Kyoto EV start-up set to launch supercar in ’19
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Desperately short of labor, midsize firms turn to robots
TOKYO (Reuters) — Desperate to overcome Japan’s growing shortage of labor, midsize companies are planning to buy robots and other equipment to automate a wide range of tasks, including manufactu...
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Creative Japan / Attention to detail leads to better auto parts
Oil seals stop lubricants from escaping through small gaps in mechanical equipment. They also prevent external dust and dirt from entering machinery. They are used in equipment such as railway cars, ...
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Ishihara pushes for early TPP enforcement by 11 nations
HANOI — A meeting of chief negotiators for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact from 11 participant countries, without the United States, was set to be held in Hanoi on Saturday evening, fo...
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Confusion over U.S. political situation likely to affect Tokyo stocks this week
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The U.S. political situation is likely to affect Tokyo stocks this week amid lingering concerns over the difficulties facing President Donald Trump, analysts say. Last week, t...
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11 firms to team up on hydrogen stations
TOKYO (Jiji Press) —Toyota Motor Corp. and 10 other companies said Friday they plan to cooperate in developing a network of hydrogen-filling stations in Japan to promote fuel cell vehicles. The 11...
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Japan, Argentina agree on trade pact
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Argentine President Mauricio Macri broadly agreed Friday to conclude a bilateral investment pact.
The two leaders instructed relevant of...
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4 groups bid for Toshiba memory unit/Japan-U.S. team viewed as key buyer
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Four groups including U.S. investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) have bid for Toshiba Corp.’s flash memory business, informed sources said Friday.
The remainin...
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Seko, Lighthizer agree to boost Japan-U.S. trade ties in 1st meeting
HANOI (Jiji Press) — Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko and new U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer agreed at their first meeting, in Hanoi on Saturday, to strengthen the t...
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Oil closes out 2nd week of gains
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Oil prices rose Friday, closing out a second week of gains on growing expectations that OPEC and other producing countries will agree next week to extend output cuts. Brent cru...
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APEC ministers meet in Vietnam, seek to revive TPP
HANOI (AP) — The Pacific Rim trade ministers started their two-day meeting in Hanoi Saturday focusing on free trade and regional economic integration amid fears of growing trade protectionism.
U.S...
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Creative Japan / Plastic wrap receives worldwide approval
Everyday products made by Japanese manufacturers are creating a buzz among global consumers, who admire their high quality and creative designs. We took a look at manufacturing in Japan today. This is...
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For millions of Chinese with rare diseases, some relief in sight
NANJING, China (Reuters) — China is set to publish its first national list of rare diseases, to guide policymakers as part of a broader overhaul to improve diagnoses and speed up drug approvals in ...
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Visitors to Japan top 10 mil. this year at fastest pace
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan this year exceeded 10 million on Saturday, crossing the threshold at its fastest pace on an annual cumulative basis, Japan Tou...
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Greek parliament approves more austerity
ATHENS (AFP-Jiji) — The Greek parliament late Thursday adopted a new round of austerity cuts which the government hopes will secure a pledge of debt relief and loan disbursements by EU-IMF creditors...
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Diet OK’s bill against false vehicle performance data
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Diet on Friday enacted a bill to toughen penalties against falsifications of automobile performance data. The bill to amend the road transport vehicle law was approved una...
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Record 97.6% of new grads get jobs
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The employment rate for job-seeking university students who graduated in spring this year came to 97.6 percent as of April 1, hitting the highest level since the survey began i...
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Mnuchin: ‘U.S. govt does not support breaking up banks’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers on Thursday that the Trump administration does not support separating investment and commercial banks.
The administratio...
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Trump administration makes NAFTA renegotiation move
WASHINGTON (AP) — Making good on a campaign promise, the Trump administration formally told Congress Thursday that it intends to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and M...
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4 car firms settle claims over Takata airbags
WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) — Four automakers agreed to a $553 million settlement to address class-action economic loss claims covering owners of nearly 16 million recalled vehicles with potentially...
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Q1 GDP rises annualized 2.2%
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan’s gross domestic product in January-March grew 0.5 percent from the previous quarter in price-adjusted real terms, up for the fifth straight quarter, led by private con...
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Analysis / Intl uncertainty, weak wage and price growth dragging on Japan’s economy
Destabilizing factors overseas have clouded Japan’s economic outlook, although strong exports and growth in consumer spending helped gross domestic product in the January-March period advance for a ...
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U.S. household debt climbs to record high
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Americans’ debt level reached a record high this year, surpassing the peak touched just as the worst of the recession was taking hold in 2008, and marking a milestone for hou...
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Google unveils new tech tricks as computers get smarter
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google’s computer programs are gaining a better understanding of the world, and now it wants them to handle more of the decision-making for the billions of people who ...
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Stocks drop as Wall Street roiled by Washington turmoil
The brewing political crisis in Washington rattled Wall Street Wednesday, knocking the Dow Jones industrial average down more than 370 points and giving the stock market its biggest single-day slump i...
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Mexico expects NAFTA talks by late August
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Tuesday he expects U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to tell Congress early next week of plans to renegotiate...
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Insurance services provided in 15 languages
Non-life insurer Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc. has expanded its multilingual customer support services in the event of car accidents, from the three languages previously offered to 15. The co...
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Negative rate affects regional banks
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Combined real net profits from core operations at 20 major regional banks and banking groups plunged 21.3 percent year on year to ¥678.6 billion in fiscal 2016, under the heav...
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Convenience stores cut prices
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Convenience stores have driven prices of daily necessities lower, aiming to better compete with supermarkets and drugstores, which are drawing customers with discounts and othe...
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Machinery orders expected to decline
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Core machinery orders are projected to drop for the second consecutive quarter in the April-June period, the Cabinet Office said Wednesday. The government agency kept its asse...
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U.S. finds Japanese, Turkish dumping of rebar exports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday the department had made a final finding of dumping of steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) exports from Japan ...
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U.S. officials prefer trilateral deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The Trump administration’s top trade officials hope to keep the North American Free Trade Agreement as a trilateral deal in negotiations with Canada and Mexico to revamp the...
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Clouds gather over Toshiba’s restructuring plans
Uncertainty is growing over Toshiba Corp.’s restructuring, after its U.S. semiconductor business partner Western Digital Corp. filed a request with the International Chamber of Commerce’s Interna...
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FT: Govt eyeing loan guarantee for Toshiba
NEW YORK (Jiji Press) — The government is considering offering guarantees for up to ¥900 billion of bank loans to Toshiba Corp. to help a Japan-led consortium acquire the firm’s flash memory bus...
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Judge: Uber must return stolen Waymo files
DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge’s order that bars Uber from using technology taken by a star engineer before he left Waymo is bad news for Uber and likely will hurt the ride-hailing company’s ow...
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Lighthizer sworn in as U.S. trade representative
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Lighthizer has been sworn in as the country’s next U.S. trade representative.
Vice President Mike Pence is calling Lighthizer “uniquely qualified” for the job and sa...
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Cyber-attack may spark lawsuits but Microsoft is well-protected
Businesses that failed to update Microsoft Windows-based computer systems that were hit by a massive cyber-attack over the weekend could be sued over their lax cybersecurity, but Microsoft Corp. itsel...
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JPMorgan buys Dublin building for 1,000 staff
DUBLIN (Reuters) — JPMorgan Chase has agreed to buy a Dublin building with room for 1,000 staff in the first sign of a financial services company expanding significantly in Ireland since the governm...
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More German companies affected by cyber-attacks
BERLIN (Reuters) — The German federal cyber agency, BSI, on Monday said it was aware of additional German institutions affected by the WannaCry “ransomware” cyber-attack beyond those companies a...
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Lighthizer to attend APEC meeting
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — New U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will attend a meeting of Asia-Pacific trade ministers next weekend in Vietnam, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Monday...
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Ford to cut N. America, Asia workers by 10%
WASHINGTON/DETROIT (Reuters) — Ford Motor Co. plans to shrink its salaried workforce in North America and Asia by about 10 percent as it works to boost profits and its sliding stock price, a source ...
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4 major banks suffer net profit dips in FY16
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Four of five major banking groups suffered falls in their group net profits in fiscal 2016, dampened by drops in lending rates due to the Bank of Japan’s negative interest ra...
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Japan, N.Z. agree to lead TPP talks without U.S.
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan and New Zealand agreed Monday to lead discussions at a ministerial meeting in Vietnam later this month of the remaining member economies of the Trans-Pacific Partnership ...
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Japan Post Holdings suffers ¥28.9 bil. net loss in fiscal 2016
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan Post Holdings Co. has said it suffered a consolidated net loss of ¥28.9 billion in fiscal 2016 through March, the first red ink since the privatization of the country’s...
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3 major oil wholesalers back in black after 3 years
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Three major oil wholesalers returned to the black for the first time in three years in the fiscal year that ended in March, according to their latest earnings reports. The tur...
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Stocks rebound on firmer U.S. market
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Stocks turned slightly higher on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Tuesday thanks to Wall Street’s overnight advance. The 225-issue Nikkei average gained 49.97 points, or 0.25 percen...
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WTO ‘keeping eye’ on U.S. trade moves
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Western Digital starts arbitration with Toshiba
TOKYO (Reuters) — Western Digital Corp. has sought international arbitration to stop partner Toshiba Corp. from selling its chips arm without its consent, potentially derailing a much-needed capita...
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Toshiba logs ¥950 bil. in unaudited net loss
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Toshiba Corp. released unaudited earnings for the year that ended in March on Monday, projecting a consolidated net loss of ¥950 billion chiefly stemming from massive losses fr...
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Xi: New initiative needs to reject protectionism
BEIJING (Reuters) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged major multilateral institutions to join his new Belt and Road Initiative, stressing the importance of rejecting protectionism in seek...
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Japanese firms entering organic EL TV market
Japan’s major electronics manufacturers are scheduled to release a series of TV sets with organic electroluminescent (EL) screens. Organic EL TV sets (see below) are capable of displaying higher-res...
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Saudi Arabia, Russia push to extend oil cuts
BEIJING (Reuters) — Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s two top oil producers, agreed on Monday on the need to extend oil output cuts for a further nine months until March 2018 to rein in a glob...
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G-7 vows cyber action as partners warm to team Trump
BARI, Italy (AFP-Jiji) — Group of Seven finance chiefs vowed Saturday to unite against cybercrime as they wrapped up talks marked by signs of a thaw in the frosty relations between the U.S. adminis...
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GE boss backs NAFTA
MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) — General Electric on Friday praised Mexico as a big part of its future and said the company is “very supportive” of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) t...
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G-7 to tackle wealth divide as fears of political unrest grow
BARI, Italy — Finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven industrialized countries agreed to make efforts to close economic gaps in their countries during their meeting that e...
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MUFG to rationalize corporate loan biz
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. will transfer the corporate loan operations of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp. to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ as early as spring nex...
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Mizuho, FamilyMart to promote investing
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Mizuho Bank said Friday it has joined forces with major convenience store chain FamilyMart Co. to promote a tax-free small-lot investment scheme in Japan. In the campaign, Miz...
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Negative rates to be applied in Europe
TOKYO (Jiji Press) —Three major banks are moving to apply negative interest rates to corporate customer deposits in Europe, bank officials and industry sources said Friday. The move by Bank of To...
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Could ‘staggered biz’ eliminate rush hour?
Amid calls for work style reform, the Tokyo metropolitan government is promoting what it calls “staggered biz,” an initiative seeking to thin out commuters during rush hour, such as by staggering ...
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Sources: Spotify to launch direct listing on NYSE
Music streaming service Spotify, most recently valued at $13 billion, will be the first major company to carry out a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange when it goes public later this year ...
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China’s investments in tech shift from U.S. to Israel
HONG KONG/TEL AVIV (Reuters) — Struggling to seal deals in the United States as regulatory scrutiny tightens, Chinese companies looking to invest in promising technology are finding a warmer welcom...
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Pakistan inks China deals worth nearly $500 mil.
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) — Pakistan signed new deals with China on Saturday worth nearly $500 million ahead of Beijing’s international forum on its “Silk Road” trade and infrastructure initiative ...
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Sources: Major bank mulls name change
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ is considering dropping “Tokyo” from its name, which has drawn complaints from customers that it is too long, informed sources said Sunday. Th...
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Camper vans to again be given for donations
KAGOSHIMA (Jiji Press) — The city of Soo in Kagoshima Prefecture will again reward people who have donated to the city under the nation’s “furusato nozei” system with camper vans, it was lear...
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5 major domestic automakers foresee profit drops for FY17
TOKYO (Jiji Press)—Five of seven major domestic automakers project drops in their group operating profits in fiscal 2017, partly due to increases in sales expenses and raw materials prices, accordi...
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JP mulls acquisition of Nomura Real Estate
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan Post Holdings Co. is considering acquiring Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc., possibly through a tender offer to buy a majority stake, informed sources said Friday. Japa...
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Annual profits at top banks drop for 3rd straight year
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The top five Japanese banking groups’ combined net profits are seen to have decreased for the third straight year in the year ended in March, battered by the Bank of Japan’...
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U.S. retail sales rebound in April
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans stepped up their spending at auto dealers, hardware stores and e-commerce outlets as retail sales rebounded from two sluggish months.
The Commerce Department said Frid...
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EU imposes antidumping duties on Chinese steel
BRUSSELS (Reuters) — The European Union has imposed definitive antidumping duties on Chinese imports of seamless pipes and tubes of iron or steel to protect its industry from steel overcapacity. ...
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Trump’s China deal boosts U.S. LNG
NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — America’s shale gas could soon head to China under long-term contracts for the first time, bolstered by a new trade deal that may not even change existing rules. Cheniere E...
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SoftBank invests $5 billion in China’s Didi Chuxing
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — SoftBank Group Corp. has invested $5 billion in Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing, informed sources said Friday. The investment apparently reflects the major Japanese tel...
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Global cyber-attack hits dozens of nations / British health services lose access to PCs
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Tokyo stocks likely to remain firm backed by brisk corporate earnings
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Stocks are projected to remain solid this week, likely to be backed by brisk corporate earnings, analysts say. Last week, the benchmark 225-issue Nikkei average jumped 438.20...
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G-7 officials agree on need to spur growth
BARI, Italy (Jiji Press)—The Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank heads have agreed that economic growth should be spurred further in order to reduce inequalities caused by globalizati...
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Forum on China’s economic reach helps Xi extend his own
BEIJING (AP) — China will seek to burnish President Xi Jinping’s stature as a world-class statesman at an international gathering centered on his signature foreign policy effort that envisions a f...
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Listed firms on track for record profits
Announcements of settlements of accounts for the business term ending March 2017 made by corporations listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange peaked on Friday.
Given the figures relea...
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U.S., China reach deal on natural gas, beef
WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) — The United States reached an agreement for China to provide greater access to U.S. natural gas exporters as part of a broader effort to begin reshaping the trade relationsh...
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G-7 finance chiefs meet amid concerns
BARI, Italy (Reuters) — Finance chiefs from some of the world’s richest nations began a two-day meeting in Italy on Friday, with Europe, Japan and Canada hoping to come away with a clearer pictur...
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Lighthizer approved as U.S. trade rep
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T-Mobile US set to take part in U.S. merger discussions
FRANKFURT (Reuters) — T-Mobile US will very likely be part of merger talks in the United States and its strong position there should give it time to find the best fit, its parent Deutsche Telekom sa...
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Lower sales drag down profit for Macy's
NEW YORK (AP) — Lower sales dragged Macy’s profit down for the first quarter, highlighting the challenge for retailers as customers shift to more online shopping and store locations lose traffic....
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New trade rep expected to take stern stance on China
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Lighthizer has long complained that the United States dithered in the face of abusive Chinese trade policies, allowing its trade gap with Beijing to explode and American fac...
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FY16 current account surplus hits 9-year high
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan’s current account surplus in fiscal 2016 topped ¥20 trillion for the first time in nine years, thanks chiefly to oil and gas price falls, government data showed Thursd...
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TEPCO to draw up nuclear partnership framework
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said Thursday it will seek an industry peer to work as its partner in the nuclear power business and draw up a basic framework for th...
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Toyota Motor chief looking at spending cuts as profit slides
TOKYO (Bloomberg) — Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said the automaker will take a closer look at its investments after forecasting a second straight annual decline in profit.
“In an env...
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Nissan forecasts unexpected 7.7% profit drop on higher material costs
TOKYO (Reuters) — Nissan Motor Co. forecast on Thursday an unexpected 7.7 percent fall in operating profit this year as it sees higher raw material costs and a negative currency impact weighing on ...
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ECB head gives cautiously upbeat forecast for eurozone
FRANKFURT (AP) — The head of the European Central Bank says that risks to the strengthening economy of the 19-country eurozone have fallen — but insists it’s too early to declare victory and st...
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More legal trouble for VW executives
BERLIN (Bloomberg) — Volkswagen AG’s top two managers are being investigated over allegations of market manipulation, deepening the carmaker’s legal woes in connection with the diesel scandal.
...
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Ross: No objection to 11-party TPP
WASHINGTON (Jiji Press) — Washington has no objection to efforts by Japan and 10 other countries to effectuate the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement without the United States, U.S. Comm...
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Snapchat’s growth stalls under Facebook’s shadow in 1st qt.
NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook has been bent on copying Snapchat ever since the social media giant tried unsuccessfully in 2013 to buy what was then an ephemeral photo-messaging app.
Now, the company beh...
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Toyota’s sales, profits seen falling for 2nd straight year
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that its group sales and profits are projected to fall for the second straight year in fiscal 2017, due to a rise in research and development ...
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Shoko Chukin punished over shady loans
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japanese regulators issued a business improvement order to Shoko Chukin Bank on Tuesday over the government-affiliated lender’s involvement in fraudulent financing. The sca...
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Bitcoin surges to all-time high above $1,700
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Digital currency bitcoin hit a record high on Tuesday as demand for crypto-assets soared with the creation of new tokens to raise funding for start-ups using blockchain technolo...
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U.S. job openings increase in March
WASHINGTON (AP) — Steady job growth has left U.S. employers with an increasingly shallow pool of unemployed workers to consider hiring, something that could lead to faster wage gains. The number o...
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Apple becomes 1st U.S. firm to top $800 bil. market cap
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Apple Inc. became the first U.S. company to top the $800 billion mark in market capitalization on Tuesday, slightly more than two years after it crossed the $700 billion thresho...
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Amazon unveils new Echo with video calls
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is giving its voice-enabled Echo speaker a touch screen and video-calling capabilities as it competes with Google’s efforts at bringing “smarts” to the home.
The 7-inc...
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U.S. ‘not to achieve 3% GDP growth’ in 2017
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. economy won’t achieve the Trump administration’s 3 percent growth goal this year and not until all of its tax, regulatory, trade and energy policies are fully in...
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Disney takes gamble on Avatar theme park
NEW YORK (AP) — Disney has wagered a reported $500 million that people will line up for a new theme-park attraction based on the 2009 movie “Avatar,” which has largely faded from pop-culture co...
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Germany welcomes Chinese investment
FRANKFURT (Reuters) — China is welcome to invest in German financial firms, Germany’s top market watchdog said after Chinese conglomerate HNA Group raised its stake in Deutsche Bank. An acquisiti...
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BOJ: Economy shifting toward moderate expansion
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Many Bank of Japan policymakers said at their meeting last month that it would be appropriate for the central bank to revise upward its assessment on the Japanese economy, the ...
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MHI operating profit tumbles 51% in FY16
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said Tuesday that its group operating profit in fiscal 2016 tumbled 51.4 percent from the previous year to ¥150,543 million, partly due to inc...
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Idemitsu, Showa Shell plan business collaboration
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. said Tuesday they will promote business collaboration, as their planned merger is being blocked by opposition from Idemitsu’s f...
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MMC logs massive net loss
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Tuesday it suffered a consolidated net loss of ¥198,524 million in fiscal 2016, which ended in March, hurt by a ¥165.5-billion extraordinary loss...
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All 7 major trading houses enjoy strong group net profit
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — All seven major trading houses enjoyed strong group net profits in fiscal 2016 that ended in March, powered by higher prices in such natural resources as coal and iron ore, acco...
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Canada eyes parallel pursuit of TPP, EPA
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Toshiba may release annual results without auditor OK
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Amazon leads surging connected speakers market
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Trump review of Wall St. rules to be done in stages
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Coach to acquire rival Kate Spade for $2.4 bil.
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Sinclair to buy Tribune Media, expanding local TV reach
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German industrial output falls less than expected
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Parts of Asia will grow old before getting rich, IMF warns
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Aozora Bank moves HQ to Sophia Univ. campus
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Macron win brings sigh of relief from business circles
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Imported auto sales up 3.2%
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Toyota’s new C-HR SUV tops vehicle sales rankings
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Tokyo stocks fall back slightly on profit-taking
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Saudi Arabia signals oil cuts could extend beyond 2017
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MUFG tests new virtual currency
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China bank payment networks proliferate
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Govt to rate devices on cyber-attacks
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China’s trade growth slows in April amid cooling demand
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Netmarble founder urges South Korea to back start-ups
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Trump calls himself fan of Sharp
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Keidanren narrowing down next chairman candidates
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French election result pushes Nikkei to 17-month closing high
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Qatar Airways signs sponsorship deal with FIFA for next 2 World Cups
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Asia markets rise after U.S. jobs report triggers Wall St. rally
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ADB to boost infrastructure lending with AIIB
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KKR ‘in talks’ with Toshiba for preemptive chips unit bid
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U.S. jobs data show some scars from recession finally healing
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Canada hits back against U.S. in lumber dispute, threatens action
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Mexico officials fly to Argentina as Trump stirs NAFTA doubt
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Possible Yellen successors stress change
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ALS treatment gets FDA approval
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Skills up for sale online: Intermediary services spreading
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‘Cinderella technologies’ make over women
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Robust U.S. hiring with slow wage growth pushes N.Y. stocks to record highs
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U.S. antidumping duty to be imposed on Japan’s steel
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Japan, China, S. Korea affirm cooperation over North Korea
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China minister skips talks
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U.S. trade deficit with Japan at 9-year high
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C919 jet takes off to test China’s aviation ambitions
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Iran in talks with U.K. over jetliner exports
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Fitch: Tax hike delay alone won’t trigger Japan rating downgrade
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WTO said to back tobacco logo ban in Australia
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Oil tumbles amid oversupply fears, unlikelihood of deeper OPEC cuts
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Euro hits 6-month high on expected Macron victory, hawkish ECB
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Survey: Female workers in managerial jobs rise to 8.3%
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TPP’s future direction could be decided later this month / U.S. withdrawal poses issues for signatories
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Women inching up corporate ladder, but challenges remain
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Countries still split on TPP
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Pressure rises over tuna haul
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ADB marks half century of helping Asia region
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Puerto Rico declares bankruptcy
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Apple to create major fund for advanced manufacturers
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U.S. House passes $1.2 tril. spending bill to fund govt
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HNA takes over top stake in Deutsche Bank
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Fed leaves rates unchanged, downplays early weak growth
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Eurozone economy leads U.S. after strong ’17 start
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MUFG 1st to downgrade Toshiba loans for FY16
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Yamato Holdings to hire 10,000 new workers in FY 17
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Wall Street slips in U.S. trading as Federal Reserve maintains rates
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Japan promotes Shinkansen in Malaysia
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Facebook hiring 3,000 more to screen out violent content
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ADB, JICA to cooperate on health security
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Greece, creditors close provisional fiscal deal
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Alitalia kicks off bankruptcy proceedings; govt grants loan
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China’s rust-belt rebound under threat from slowing inflation
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Made-in-China passenger jet set to take wing
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OPEC deepens oil production cuts in April
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U.S. auto sales decline 4.7% in April
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Japan, 10 other countries start TPP talks without U.S.
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Tech, industrial gains boost U.S. stocks; Fed seen to hold off on rate hike
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Windows 10 S for Microsoft Surface laptops unveiled
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Apple posts dip in iPhone sales
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Kono to be awarded senior OECD post
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Mnuchin sees U.S. growth reaching 3%, tax cuts helping
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Bernanke: 3% growth unlikely
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Blue carnation shipments start ahead of Mother’s Day
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New fast food? Convenience stores add hot, cheap options
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SoftBank in talks to invest $1.4 bil. in India’s Paytm
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Citadel’s CEO echoes Trump
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U.S. consumer spending flat; inflation pressures subside
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China factory growth slows to lowest in 7 mths
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Tokyo stocks climb on robust earnings
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BOJ Gov. Kuroda welcomes infrastructure role of AIIB
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Use of virtual currency gains pace
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Differing motives complicate ‘TPP 11’
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South Korean exports grow at fastest pace since 2011
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May vows not to hike VAT after poll
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Siemens, SAP sign cooperation deals with Saudi authorities
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Tokyo stocks rise on brisk earnings, yen’s drop against dollar
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Global Economy / Yellow light for ridesharing as popularity increases
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Abe discusses possibility of FTA with May
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Housing starts up 5.8% to over 974,000 units in fiscal 2016
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Govt to raise broadcast program export target to ¥50 bil.
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U.S. to probe Japan firms over auto parts patent abuse
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Qualcomm lowers forecasts due to dispute with Apple
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Ex-chief at Yahoo Japan Inoue dies in Calif. accident
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Chevron, Exxon beat earnings estimates
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China manufacturing growth slows faster than expected
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EU agrees on 2-stage process in Brexit talks
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In first 100 days, a reversal of fortune for Trump favorites
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Time, Meredith nix merger
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Consumer spending bogs down U.S. economy
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British economy slows as inflation hits
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U.S. administration’s policies rattle govt, industry
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Yamato Transport to hike fees for 1st time in 27 yrs
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Japan-U.S. team leading Toshiba race
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Sharp logs 1st profit in 3 yrs
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Tokyo stocks expected to show volatility after Golden Week holiday
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Job openings ratio increases to highest level since 1990
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Japanese companies keep watchful eye on NAFTA renegotiations
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Nintendo sees Switch doubling profit
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Senate confirms Acosta as Labor secretary
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Trump to sign order aimed at expanding offshore drilling
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Google profit up 29% on strong ad sales
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Chicago doctor reaches settlement with United
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March manufacturing, core inflation fall short of forecasts
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Nomura eyes Germany as new EU base
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Trump unveils ‘huge’ tax cut plan
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Tougher rules eyed for ‘card loans’
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OPEC ministers push to extend cuts
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White House: Trump will not immediately leave NAFTA
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Alitalia readies for special administration
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BOJ upgrades assessment of economy
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Coca-Cola to cut 1,200 jobs
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WTO ruling favors Mexico in U.S. tuna spat
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LVMH to take full control of Dior brand
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Trump tax plan would sharply reduce corporate tax rates
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McDonald’s shelves plan to sell Japan unit stake after rebound
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China Airlines to launch flights with Kumamon
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FTC proposes expanding its leniency system for companies
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Nikkei hits 1-month high on Wall St. rise
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McDonald’s U.S. sales climb, customer traffic still a focus
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Analysis / Widening labor shortage to test 24/7 convenience stores
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Tuna catch to soon exceed limit
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Yamato to raise fees by 5-20%
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Changes to same-day delivery
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U.S. sets 20% duties on Canada softwood
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Agriculture ministry puts game on menu
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Hasbro heads for the loo and business booms
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T-Mobile open to merger talks; new subscribers top estimates
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Analysis / Will China’s answer to Boeing sell?
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Tokyo index retakes 19,000
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French stocks soar to near-decade highs on Macron poll result
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Japan Post to book ¥40 bil. loss in FY16
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Switching electricity providers slow to catch on outside urban areas
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Isetan Mitsukoshi chooses Akamatsu as next chairman
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Analysis / Finance leaders dodge conflict with Trump
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Toshiba says 4 units set to split
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Saudi Arabia brings back perks for civil servants
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China stocks post worst day this year as regulators tighten grip
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New guidelines target tofu prices / Makers manipulated by store retailers
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Volkswagen gets 3 years’ probation, oversight
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American Airlines under fire for treatment of mom
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U.S. probe of China foil dumping to continue
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Fitch lowers Italy’s debt rating, citing weak growth
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KKR emerges as bidder for Toshiba unit
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10 electric cars eyed for China by 2020
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U.S. home sales shoot up to 10-year high
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Apple hires Google satellite executives
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IMF members drop vow to fight protectionism
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JP plans 1-time FY16 write-down
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Marronnier Gate 2 and 3 open after renovations
Marronnier Gate Ginza 2 and 3 made their grand debut in the Ginza district of Tokyo on Wednesday after renovations were completed on the main and annex buildings of the former Printemps Ginza departm...
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Ex-Goldman banker Mnuchin voted in to lead U.S. Treasury
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ECB sees seeds of next crisis in Trump deregulation plan
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Investor Icahn to sell closed Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City
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Anti-Trump protest targets Japanese banks
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Japan firms confused about Trump’s immigration order
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Ford, Goldman CEOs slam travel ban
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Rakuten backs Muslim workers
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U.S. order on rules skips key regulations
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Trump ‘trims $600 mil.’ from F-35 costs
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U.S. notifies signatories of withdrawal from TPP
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Mnuchin advocates strong U.S. dollar
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Trump ‘won’t wait to act’ on trade pacts
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Kawasaki casts doubt over ties to Trump-linked show
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Trump threatens German carmakers with 35% U.S. tariff
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Tokyo stocks dive over Trump policy remarks
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With eye on Trump, execs highlight U.S. investments at motor show
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Trump raps Toyota’s Mexico plan
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Trump hits Toyota on plan to build auto plant in Mexico
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Trump names lawyer Clayton as SEC chief
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Trump taps China critic Lighthizer for U.S. trade chief
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Financial literacy survey shows Japan-U.S. gap in knowledge
A survey conducted on financial literacy found that people in Japan have a poorer understanding of financial matters than respondents to similar surveys conducted in the United States and by the Orga...
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Analysis / ‘Trump Thump’ whacks bond market
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President-elect may save banks billions
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Nikkei rises over 17,000 as election fears recede
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Wall St. taken aback by Clinton loss