
Japan's Nikkei falls on profit-taking, yen; Mizuho climbs
Japan's Nikkei share average fell on Wednesday as traders locked in recent gains and appreciation in the yen sapped demand for exporters.
Tokio Marine Holdings sank 2.6% and triggered a decline in
insurance
companies after forecasting a 12% drop in annual profit. Mizuho surged 2.7%, leading banks higher after announcing a plan to shed cross-shareholdings.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Setiawangsa: SUV Sale, Click Here to See Prices
Luxury SUV Deals | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
The benchmark Nikkei has climbed 4.4% since U.S. President
Donald Trump
announced sweeping tariffs on April 2, only to pause most of them as he sought bilateral trade deals.
"Stocks have been on a rise, but now that earnings have come to an end, I think there's a slight lack of catalysts in the market," said Wataru Akiyama, a strategist at Nomura Securities.
"We may be seeing an adjustment in the
stock market
after the recent rally has led to short-term overheating."
Live Events
Japan's export-reliant economy and
equity
market are still vulnerable to how trade talks with the U.S. pan out. The nation's lead trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, will head to the U.S. on Friday for a third round of talks, the Nikkei newspaper reported.
Data on Wednesday showed Japanese exports rose for the seventh straight month in April but shipments to the U.S. fell, highlighting the toll of Trump's tariffs.
The Nikkei extended losses in the afternoon session as the yen advanced, closing 0.6% lower. The broader Topix lost 0.2%.
There were 121 advancers against 102 decliners on the Nikkei, which is still down almost 6.5% this year.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gemini Daily Horoscope Today, June 12, 2025: Let joy be your compass today
Today reminds you to follow what lifts your spirit. Joy is not selfish—it is a signpost guiding you toward the life you are meant to live. The stars support spontaneous decisions, creative thinking, and laughter that comes from deep inside. Don't let heavy thoughts stop you from enjoying the present. Make space for happiness, even if it's small. A colourful moment, a light chat, or a new idea could change your mood entirely. Where joy leads, life blooms more fully. Gemini Love Horoscope Today Love feels lighter when you stop trying to make it serious all the time. If you're in a relationship, do something fun together—share stories, dance in the kitchen, laugh without reason. If you're single, let go of overthinking who's right or wrong. Enjoy getting to know someone new without planning everything. Love is more real when it grows from shared joy. Today, let your heart play a little. That lightness will naturally attract someone who sees your glow. Gemini Career Horoscope Today In your career, the more you enjoy your work, the more success flows. Let curiosity guide your tasks today. Ask questions, try different methods, or bring colour to your space. Your energy will lift the whole environment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Simple. Clean. Solitaire Play Solitaire Download Undo Avoid taking on too much at once. Small wins bring motivation. If you've been thinking of a creative project, now is a great time to start. Let joy be your guide, not just deadlines. Gemini Money Horoscope Today With finances, don't let fear control your choices. Instead, think about what brings lasting happiness. It's okay to treat yourself, but only when it adds value, not just momentary relief. Be wise and cheerful while spending. You may also find a joyful way to earn—maybe a hobby that brings money. Money should support your joy, not replace it. Save where needed, but let your heart have a say too. Gemini Health Horoscope Today Your health improves naturally when your mood is bright. You may feel more active today, so use this energy well. Go for a walk, dance, or play something. If you're feeling mentally stuck, try laughter therapy or uplifting music. Avoid too much processed food—it may lower your energy. A fruit-filled snack or a colourful plate can lift your body and mood. Emotional health matters as much as physical. When joy leads, your whole body responds with lightness and strength. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .


Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump says China trade deal ‘done': 55% tariff, supply of rare earth minerals
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States has reached a trade agreement with China, including an easing of curbs imposed by Beijing on export of rare earth minerals and magnets that are key inputs for industries ranging from automobiles to electronics. 'Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. He said China would supply 'any necessary rare earths' and magnets, while the US would make concessions on allowing Chinese students to attend American universities. The Trump administration had recently begun to clamp down on the presence of Chinese nationals on US college campuses. 'We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!' Trump wrote, without elaborating. Bloomberg quoted a White House official as saying that the agreement allows the US to charge a 55 per cent tariff on imported Chinese goods, which, crucially, includes a 10 per cent baseline 'reciprocal' tariff, a 20 per cent tariff for fentanyl trafficking, and a 25 per cent tariff reflecting pre-existing tariffs (imposed by Trump in his first term, that the Biden administration persisted with). China would charge a 10 per cent tariff on American imports, the official said. Though the details of the deal were still unclear, analysts predicted that China seems to have gained the upper-hand after its rare earth restrictions prompted US carmakers, including Ford Motor and Chrysler, to cut production. Significantly, Trump said a final deal is subject to approval from him and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese state media said earlier Wednesday that Beijing had reached a 'framework' for an agreement with the US during talks in London, but there was no official response from China on Trump's subsequent claims on Truth Social. Earlier, both the negotiating sides said they had agreed in principle to a framework for dialling down trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies. After the meeting in London — the second time the two sides have met in the last couple of months, since Trump's sweeping tariff onslaught — there were indications of a reconciliation. What is beginning to get clearer after the second meeting is that this is perhaps not how the US imagined the trade war to unfold. China is beginning to dictate the direction of the bilateral talks, with the US almost seen as requesting for much-needed concessions on the resumption of supplies of critical inputs. In the first round of talks in Geneva, the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had asked the Chinese to cut its tariffs in tandem with theirs, primarily because the Americans were facing the heat back home from the early fallout of the high tariffs, including empty shelves at grocery stories and surging prices of daily use commodities. In London, the US side is learnt to have specifically asked the Chinese to 'suspend or remove' restrictions on rare earths magnets, which had forced a supply-chain crunch. The London meeting follows a call between Trump and Xi on June 5, which was initiated by the White House — the first call since Trump's reciprocal tariff announcement. After the London talks, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the deal should result in restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets 'being resolved'. 'We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus… Once the Presidents approve it, we will then seek to implement it,' he said. 'The two sides have, in principle, reached a framework for implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state during the phone call on June 5 and the consensus reached at the Geneva meeting,' the BBC quoted China's Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang as saying. Chinese export controls over rare earth minerals were high on the agenda of the meetings. While Beijing has not imposed an outright ban on the export of rare earth magnets, the process has been made very difficult; it could take a long time to source, posing shortage risks. Rare earth magnets, especially neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, are crucial for EV manufacturing. They provide the strong magnetic fields needed for efficient and powerful electric motors, including traction motors that drive EVs. These magnets also play a major role in other EV components like power steering systems, wiper motors and braking systems. China has a virtual stranglehold over these rare earth magnets. In May, talks held in Geneva led to a temporary truce after the tit-for-tat tariff increases by both sides, which led to duties that peaked at 145 per cent. Trump called the outcome of the talks in Switzerland a 'total reset', which brought US tariffs on Chinese products down to 30 per cent, while Beijing cut duties on US imports to 10 per cent. Both sides also agreed to a 90-day deadline to try to reach a trade deal. However, the US and China have since accused each other of breaching the deal. The US has said that Beijing has been dragging its feet on opening up exports of rare earth metals and magnets while the Chinese claim that Washington has restricted its access to American goods such as semiconductors and other related technologies linked to artificial intelligence. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had said China had failed to roll back restrictions on exports of rare earth magnets. In the run-up to this week's talks, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that it had approved some applications for rare earth export licences. The problem for the US is that the Chinese side has wrested some advantage, especially by leveraging its strategy of weaponing its dominance in key sectors. Rare earth minerals and magnets is one such area, where the US is now desperate for concessions. Both sides have since claimed breaches on non-tariff pledges, but the Americans clearly seem more eager for a reconciliation, given the impact of the Chinese blockade on its key manufacturing sectors. These Chinese trade blockades are already impacting companies in other geographies. Hamamatsu-based small car maker Suzuki Motors, for instance, said last week it plans to suspend the production of its flagship Swift compact hatchback due to China's rare earth restrictions, becoming the first Japanese automaker to be impacted. There are similar worries among other manufacturing entities across the world, including in the US. Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
No merchant discount rate on UPI transactions
New Delhi: The government is fully committed to promoting digital payments via Unified Payment Interface (UPI), the finance ministry said Wednesday, adding there will be no merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions . MDR is a rate charged to a merchant for the payment processing of debit and credit card transactions. "Speculation and claims that the MDR will be charged on UPI transactions are completely false, baseless and misleading," it said in a statement, adding that such speculations cause needless uncertainty, fear and suspicion among the citizens. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Damai Bahagia (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo To promote digital transactions, MDR was made zero from January 2020 for RuPay debit cards and BHIM-UPI transactions through amendments in Section 10A of the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and Section 269SU of the Income Tax Act, 1961. To support the payment ecosystem participants in effective delivery of services, "Incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M)" has been implemented, the government said in March. Only UPI (P2M) transactions up to ₹2,000 for small merchants are covered under the scheme.