Latest news with #RisakoNakanishi
![Podcast [English World] Episode 108: JICA to issue Africa-support bonds](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fenglish-kyodo.ismcdn.jp%2Fmwimgs%2Fd%2F0%2F1200x%2Fimg_d08172916424d12fdc17fe3cb3c5a430742881.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![Podcast [English World] Episode 108: JICA to issue Africa-support bonds](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkyodonews.net.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Kyodo News
30-07-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Podcast [English World] Episode 108: JICA to issue Africa-support bonds
What can Japan do to support the African continent? Three Kyodo News reporters -- Toma Mochizuki, Risako Nakanishi and Mari Tokumitsu -- discuss about an article written by Mari on the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, and its plans to issue bonds to raise funds for the developmental needs of African nations. Listen as they explore the significance of the move and how such funds have been used in the past. Article mentioned in the podcast: Japan's aid agency to issue 23 bil. yen Africa-support bonds in Aug. Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.
Japan Today
26-07-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Today
Nikkei likely to stay above 40,000 despite political uncertainty
A financial data monitor in Tokyo shows the Nikkei Stock Average climbing above 42,000 on July 24, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo By Risako Nakanishi Boosted by a Japan-U.S. trade deal, the Nikkei stock index is expected to stay afloat above the 40,000 threshold at least for a while, despite political uncertainty created by the major setback suffered by Japan's ruling parties in a recent national election. The benchmark may soon break its record high by surpassing 42,224.02 registered a year ago, but the market could face a downside risk if long-term interest rates surge further due to expectations of expansionary fiscal measures like a consumption tax cut. "With uncertainty over tariff negotiations dispelled, it makes it easier for companies to foresee future earnings, helping to support the stock market," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co. The Nikkei added more than 2,000 points over the two days through Thursday after the agreement that U.S. tariffs on imported Japanese cars and other goods will be lowered sharply to 15 percent, although the yield on the key 10-year government bond spiked to 1.600 percent, its highest level since 2008. "As long as higher interest rates are accompanied by improving business performance, stocks will rise as seen in the past," Sawada said, expecting the index to be supported around the 40,000 line. The market is likely to be buoyed by hopes for upward revisions in earnings after some major companies like Toyota Motor Co. projected a hefty 35 percent drop in net profit for this fiscal year by factoring in an additional 25 percent tariff imposed by Washington from April. Trade data show that Japan's shipments to the United States, the largest export destination for Japanese automakers, dropped 11.4 percent in value terms in June from a year earlier for the third consecutive monthly decline, contributing to a 30.8 percent plunge in its trade surplus with the country. "Stocks may be further lifted by positive incentives like more U.S. trade deals with the European Union and China, as well as economic data and earnings," possibly sending the Nikkei to the 44,000 level at one point, said Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank. While many analysts believe the current level of long-term interest rates at around 1.6 percent is unlikely to be an obstacle for stocks to chase higher ground, a spike toward 2 percent may stir concerns about increased borrowing costs and dent market sentiment. Situations surrounding the bond market suggest the likelihood of the yield climbing further, as the Japan-U.S. trade deal helped ease concern about the prospects of the domestic economy and will make it easier for the Bank of Japan to further raise interest rates. The tariff deal is a "big step forward," as it reduces economic uncertainty facing Japanese companies under U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policy, BOJ Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida said Wednesday. His remark fueled speculation that the central bank will increase the policy rate again after raising it three times since March last year to around 0.50 percent, as it shifts from a decade of unorthodox monetary easing. "Given that the tariff negotiations ended up with a desirable agreement despite expectations of tough going, the recession risk in the second half of this year has alleviated considerably," said Daiju Aoki, chief Japan economist at UBS SuMi TRUST Wealth Management Co. "Japan's interest rates are likely to remain elevated with the probability of a rate hike by the end of year increasing significantly," Aoki said, adding that investors will adopt a cautious stance about buying bonds, whose prices move inversely to yields. Reflecting expectations for weakening demand, the auction for 40-year government bonds held Wednesday was sluggish, with the bid-to-cover ratio standing at 2.13 percent, its lowest level since 2011. Higher yields also followed on from the results of Sunday's House of Councillors election, which raised the possibility that expansionary fiscal measures may be adopted in the future, leading to further deterioration in Japan's fiscal health. The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito suffered a major setback in the election, losing their majority in the upper house, with opposition forces urging that the consumption tax be cut, suspended, or even abolished to ease the pain of inflation. The ruling coalition, meanwhile, pledged to deliver cash handouts, which are likely to require fewer financial resources. "Currently the key long-term yield remains at around 1.6 percent, as there have not been specific moves leading to stimulus measures such as reducing the consumption tax," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co. "But if such moves come into sight, such as opposition parties starting to request such measures, the yield could climb further," he said, adding that it could affect negatively to the stock market if it rises to between 1.7 and 1.8 percent. © KYODO
![Podcast [English World] Episode 103: Shareholder perks used to help NPOs](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.kyodonews.net%2Fenglish%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fposts%2F8367a5e1916be92c4e60b9cb878b241b%2Fcropped_image_l.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Kyodo News
25-06-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Podcast [English World] Episode 103: Shareholder perks used to help NPOs
KYODO NEWS - 37 minutes ago - 10:10 | All, Podcast What is a shareholder perk? Three Kyodo News reporters -- Toma Mochizuki, Risako Nakanishi and Mari Tokumitsu -- talk about an article written by Mari about shareholder perks and how securities firms have been utilizing the system to donate items to nonprofit organizations. Listen as they discuss what items are particularly sought after and what kind of struggles the program faces. Article mentioned in the podcast: Japan brokerages donating shareholder perks to help kids in poverty Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents. Related coverage: Podcast [English World] Episode 102: Births dip below 700,000 for 1st time Podcast [English World] Episode 101: Stockpiled rice Podcast [English World] Episode 100: Atomic bomb trees
Kyodo News
25-06-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Podcast [English World] Episode 103: Shareholder perks used to help NPOs
KYODO NEWS - 6 minutes ago - 10:10 | All, Podcast What is a shareholder perk? Three Kyodo News reporters -- Toma Mochizuki, Risako Nakanishi and Mari Tokumitsu -- talk about an article written by Mari about shareholder perks and how securities firms have been utilizing the system to donate items to nonprofit organizations. Listen as they discuss what items are particularly sought after and what kind of struggles the program faces. Article mentioned in the podcast: Japan brokerages donating shareholder perks to help kids in poverty Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents. Related coverage: Podcast [English World] Episode 102: Births dip below 700,000 for 1st time Podcast [English World] Episode 101: Stockpiled rice Podcast [English World] Episode 100: Atomic bomb trees
