logo
A Decade On, Has Japan's Corporate Revolution Worked Too Well?

A Decade On, Has Japan's Corporate Revolution Worked Too Well?

Bloomberg6 hours ago

Japan wanted change in its corporate sector. It got it — for better or worse.
A decade on from the introduction of the country's first Corporate Governance Code, there's so much M&A activity in Tokyo these days that it's tough to even keep track. From private equity to activist investors to consolidation among companies fearful they'll be targeted next, no acquisition seems beyond the pale.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stocks struggle, oil up for 3rd week as Trump weighs US action on Iran
Stocks struggle, oil up for 3rd week as Trump weighs US action on Iran

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Stocks struggle, oil up for 3rd week as Trump weighs US action on Iran

By Stella Qiu SYDNEY (Reuters) -Share markets in Asia struggled for direction on Friday as fears of a potential U.S. attack on Iran hung over markets, while oil prices were poised to rise for a third straight week on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Overnight, Israel bombed nuclear targets in Iran, and Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel as a week-old air war intensified with no sign yet of an exit strategy from either side. The White House said President Donald Trump will decide in the next two weeks whether the U.S. will get involved in the Israel-Iran war. The U.S. President is facing uproar from some of his MAGA base over a possible strike on Iran. Brent fell 2% on Friday to $77.22 per barrel, but is still headed for a strong weekly gain of 4%, following a 12% surge the previous week. "The 'two-week deadline' is a tactic Trump has used in other key decisions, including those involving Russia and Ukraine, and tariffs," said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG. "Often, these deadlines expire without concrete action, (similar to TACO), and there is certainly a risk of this happening again, given the complexities of the situation." Still, a cautious mood prevailed in markets with Nasdaq futures and S&P 500 futures both 0.3% lower in Asia. U.S. markets were closed for the Juneteenth holiday, offering little direction for Asia. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.1% but was set for a weekly drop of 1%. Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.2%. China's blue chips rose 0.3%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.5%, after the central bank held the benchmark lending rates steady as widely expected. In the currency markets, the dollar was on the back foot again, slipping 0.2% to 145.17 yen after data showed Japan's core inflation hit a two-year high in May, which kept pressure on the Bank of Japan to resume interest rate hikes. Investors, however, see little prospects of a rate hike from the BOJ until December this year, which is a little over 50% priced in. The U.S. bond market, which was also closed on Thursday, started trading in Asian hours on a subdued note. Ten-year Treasury bond yield was flat at 4.389%, while two-year yields slipped 2 basis points to 3.925%. Overnight, the Swiss National Bank cut rates to zero and did not rule out going negative, while the Bank of England held policy steady but saw the need for further easing and Norway's central bank surprised everyone and cut rates for the first time since 2020. Gold prices eased 0.2% to $3,363 an ounce, but were set for a weekly loss of 2%. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Promising policy action brings hope amidst continued economic challenges: PwC's 2025 M&A mid-year update released
Promising policy action brings hope amidst continued economic challenges: PwC's 2025 M&A mid-year update released

Yahoo

time30 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Promising policy action brings hope amidst continued economic challenges: PwC's 2025 M&A mid-year update released

Transformative policy actions could boost Canada's role in North American supply chains and stabilize ties with the US. Trend shows decline in inbound and locally sourced deals; overall deals activity comes in at approximately 1000 deals totalling $134B announced since January 2025. Canadian family offices rebound: deal values increased by 16% from 2023 to 2024, signaling renewed momentum. TORONTO, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - PwC Canada's 2025 mid-year Canadian M&A update highlights a pivotal moment for the Canadian economy. Amidst global uncertainty and a cooling domestic outlook, Canada is pursuing a bold policy agenda aimed at restoring national economic resilience. While these efforts are rooted in domestic priorities, they may also yield a valuable secondary benefit: a more stable and strategically aligned relationship with the United States. "Canada's current policy direction focuses on building a stronger, more self-reliant economy," said Michael Dobner, National Leader of Economics and Policy Practice, PwC Canada. "This approach also helps foster a more constructive and complementary relationship with the US, one based on shared interests rather than dependency." Economic update: Between January and May 2025, Canadian companies announced 996 deals totaling $134 billion. However, the report notes declines in inbound and locally sourced deals in Canada. This reflects a broader climate of caution, as businesses delay investments and expansion plans in response to persistent uncertainty. PwC's baseline projection for Canadian GDP growth in 2025 remains below 1%. Despite these headwinds, Canada's trade position with the United States remains comparatively strong. Canadian exporters are generally benefiting from relatively low tariffs, especially when compared to countries like China, which continue to face significant trade barriers to the United States. This advantage can help some Canadian businesses to maintain or even grow their market share in the US, offering a rare bright spot in an otherwise subdued economic landscape. In this context, "the current negotiations between Canada and the United States, which benefit from Canada's new vision, may further strengthen Canada's relative trade position with the United States," added Dobner. The report outlines a suite of policy priorities shaping Canada's new vision. Key priorities now include streamlining regulations, initiating large-scale infrastructure projects, increasing investment in defence and Arctic development, removing interprovincial trade barriers, fast-tracking the integration of artificial intelligence and changing the immigration system to focus on attracting highly skilled individuals to Canada. These initiatives are designed to address Canada's productivity and competitiveness challenges, and, if successful, will also position the country to play a more active role in North American supply chains and innovation ecosystems. If early policy actions are interpreted by market players as genuine, practical and decisive, PwC Canada suggests that meaningful improvements in Canada's economic outlook could begin as early as 2026. All levels of government have a crucial role in providing these signals over the coming months. While there is good reason for cautious optimism, the report notes that the global environment remains unpredictable. Potential global crises, financial crisis as a result of a loss of trust in the US dollar, or disruption of entire sectors by emerging technology could have significant consequences. Canadian businesses must stay vigilant, closely monitor global developments and adopt flexible, risk-aware strategies to navigate an uncertain future. Opportunities for Canadian family offices: The report also highlights the evolving role of Canadian family offices, which are emerging as increasingly influential players in the investment landscape. After a period of decline beginning in 2021, family office deal activity is rebounding. In Canada, deal values rose by more than 16% from 2023 to 2024. Key trends shaping this evolution: Club deals, where family offices co-invest with peers to access larger opportunities and share risk, are gaining traction globally. While only 23% of Canadian family office investments in 2024 were structured this way, compared to 71% globally in 2022, this gap signals untapped potential. Impact investing is on the rise. In 2024, Canadian family offices surpassed the 50% threshold for allocating capital to investments that generate measurable social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. These investments are increasingly aligned with national priorities such as productivity, innovation, and affordable housing. Direct investments, where family offices invest directly in businesses such as private equity, startups or M&A, have grown to represent 70% of global activity, up from a real estate-heavy focus a decade ago. In contrast, 69% of Canadian family office investments in 2024 remained in real estate, indicating potential opportunities to diversify investment portfolios. For more insights and to access the full report, visit About PwC Canada: At PwC Canada, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We're a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 7,000 partners and staff in offices across the country. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting, we help build, accelerate and sustain momentum. PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see for further details. Find out more by visiting us at: © 2025 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. SOURCE PwC Management Services LP View original content to download multimedia:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store