Latest news with #Uniqlo
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
Nikkei 225 expected to trend higher if trade deals are inked
The Nikkei 225 Index Futures, traded in standard, mini, and micro contracts, is a derivative instrument based on Japan's flagship equity benchmark, the Nikkei 225 Index. Its top three constituents by weight are Fast Retailing (Uniqlo), Tokyo Electron (semiconductor equipment), and Advantest (semiconductor testing solutions). In May, Japanese equities rallied by 5.36 per cent in JPY terms, supported by the 90-day pause in US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs and the lowering of China tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent. This easing of trade pressure supported Japan's export-heavy companies and lifted market sentiment. At the same time, soaring Japanese Government Bond (JGB) yields posed a threat to equities. Higher yields narrow the earnings-yield gap, eroding the equity risk premium and encouraging investors to rotate to the safety of bonds. They also tend to raise borrowing costs and squeeze corporate profitability, further weighing on Japanese companies. On May 22, the 30-year JGB yield hit an all-time high of about 3 per cent, fuelled by expectations of Bank of Japan (BOJ) tightening and persistent inflationary pressures. Since then, yields have cooled, aided by the BOJ's decision to leave policy rates unchanged and to taper bond purchases. This stance should help limit further spikes in funding costs, preserving the equity risk premium and lending near-term support to equities. Additionally, a narrower-than-expected Q1 real GDP contraction reinforces the BOJ's cautious path towards gradual policy normalisation, keeping a lid on JGB yields. While macro headwinds remain, especially with the US being Japan's largest export market, we believe there is material upside potential if bilateral negotiations progress and trade deals are inked. A key risk, however, lies in currency fluctuations, particularly a stronger yen. For example, Toyota estimates that every 1 yen move in USD/JPY shaves roughly 50 billion yen from operating profit. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Looking ahead to 2H 2025, monetary policy, US fiscal and trade decisions, and geopolitics will dominate the global market narrative. Key milestones include the Jul 9 deadline for President Trump's tariff review, Middle-East tensions, progress on the China-US trade dialogue, and the Fed's rate path. Despite these risk factors, we believe the structural bull case for Japan equities remains intact. Relative valuation is attractive, with the Nikkei 225 trading at an approximate 30 per cent discount to the S&P 500 and below its own five-year average multiple of 25.4x. We expect uncertainty to linger through 2H 2025 but see room for multiple convergence as investors reallocate capital to non-US markets. Structural catalysts such as the AI narrative, corporate governance reform, cross-holding unwinds, rising inflows from the Nippon Individual Savings Account programme, and an unprecedented wave of shareholder activism continue to support multiple expansion. While near-term profit pressure may persist for exporters due to currency risk, these structural shifts are fostering a long-term re-rating environment. Both the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Japanese government are pressing companies to improve valuations. Tactics range from share buybacks to more unconventional efforts such as gift distributions at AGMs to cultivate retail-investor loyalty. Heightened shareholder activism is compelling management teams - long criticised for cash hoarding - to deliver credible growth strategies, fostering conditions for a sustained re-rating and long-term corporate performance in an increasingly uncertain business climate. Nikkei 225 technical outlook The daily chart of the Osaka Nikkei 225 Mini Futures shows the contract rebounding from its Apr 7 low of 30,650 and riding an ascending trend line that intersects the 50-day moving average (37,111). This moving average appears poised to cross above the 100-day moving average (37,200). The latest close at 38,875, comfortably above 38,470, aligns with the 76.4 per cent Fibonacci extension drawn from the August 2024 low, January 2025 high, and April 2025 low. Looking ahead, sustaining this breakout opens the door to 40,885 (100 per cent extension) and 43,300 (123.6 per cent). Immediate support lies at 36,975 (61.8 per cent), with a deeper floor at 35,710 (50 per cent). Ultimately, we believe a temporary tariff détente, stabilising bond yields, and a constructive technical profile position the Nikkei 225 futures for a test of the 41,000 region, provided the Jul 9 tariff deadline does not reignite trade frictions and JGB yields remain contained. The writer is senior investment analyst at Phillip Nova
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Jonathan Anderson debuts at Dior: Welcome to the New Era
Jonathan Anderson presented his debut collection for Dior behind a famed French monument to its military, Les Invalides, and at the finale it felt very much like a designer marching to glory. See catwalk Think of it as the New Era, rather than the New Look, as the Irishman riffed on Dior's DNA, and many women's wear designs of Monsieur Dior himself, to create a powerful pathbreaking fashion statement. Take Monsieur's autumn 1948 multi-fold Delft dress made in silk faille which Anderson then morphed into multi-leaf white denim cargo shorts that opened the show. Or a superb check wool coat, nipped at the waist but scalloped below the hips, a look Monsieur named Caprice from spring 1948, which led to a great series elephantine men's pants with wraparound features. The Stakhanovite Anderson has clearly been putting in long shifts at Dior, mastering the codes, delving into the archives. Playing on another Dior classic, Christian's Autumn 1952 dimpled moiré coat, La Cigale. But taking it forward into the 21st century with some great undulating coats. Plus, his Donegal tweed style versions of the house's signature Bar jacket were pretty sensational. Throughout, there was a whole Edwardian feel – with high collars, stocks and knotted bows, albeit worn without shirts, and paired with great Dior grey fracks, albeit paired with faded jeans. Plus, Anderson will surely ignite huge demand for the trim linen summer gilet - in pink or finished with flowers. While his Jacobean rogue coats will be huge hits. Many looks anchored by a new suede boxing-meets-trail bootie. He dreamed up one striking new mop bag, but otherwise played with Dior's hit fabric tote, but creating many versions printed with classic novels – from Françoise Sagan's "Bonjour Tristesse" to Bram Stroker's "Dracula". If occasionally erratic – one or two chino and striped shirts looks reminded one that Anderson has made several capsule collections for Uniqlo – it still all felt like a major menswear statement and huge hit. Without question it was the most anticipated debut by a designer at a major house this century. If there was any doubt; look at the fellow designers who showed up: Donatella Versace (for whom he briefly designed Versus), Stefano Pilati, Courrèges ' Nicolas Di Felice, Glenn Martens, Silvia Fendi, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Daniel Roseberry, Christian Louboutin, Chitose Abe, Michael Rider, Julien Dossena, Chemena Kamali, and LVMH regulars or alumni – from Pharrell Williams to Kris Van Assche. Talk about designer gridlock. See catwalk The 40-year-old Northern Irishman takes over at Dior as an already acclaimed star. Having turned Loewe, LVMH's leading Spanish brand, into the hottest show in Paris this past half decade. Jonathan's choice of location respected tradition, seeing it was the same square where his immediate predecessor Kim Jones had staged his final show for Dior in January. There the similarity ended, with not a hint of Kim's style in sight. Though the set design did recall Anderson's debut show at Loewe, which featured precisely poured concrete blocks as seats. At Dior, the audience sat on precise plywood blocks, on a plywood floor, under a high ceiling entirely made of illuminated squares. Even since he began teasing on social media his new era at Dior, it's been a respectful homage to classicism. Just like this collection, even if he also managed to turn the whole codes upside down. Somewhat eccentrically, a pre-show French speaker recounted - at length - exact cuts, darts, shapes and fabrics of Dior looks, which turned out to be indie director and French heartthrob, Louis Garrel reading from the memoir "Dior and I". Garrel, whose mop-top hair appears to have been the inspiration for all the models' hairstyle, joined Louvre director Laurence Descartes, Roger Federer, Robert Pattinson, Daniel Craig and Rihanna, in the front row. In teases and in the show, Jonathan also played on Monsieur Dior's great affection for British taste with an opening Instagram post of a blue shirt fabric with a pin for Dior. Putting that online in mid-April six weeks before his appointment was official. Posting all manner of hints from a tape measure curled into a thimble to look like a snail on huge leaf, to an embroidered Louis XIV chair, he personally redesigned. Anderson – who will direct menswear, women's wear and couture at Dior - restored the house's dove gray logo, and replaced the all capital Dior, with just the "D" capitalized. Seen at the entrance to the huge show tent, over a giant illustration of Dior's neo-classical salon on Avenue Montaigne, which witnessed the birth of the house, and the legendary New Look on February 12, 1947. Which segued into two works of fine art – oil paintings by J.B.S. Chardin of a vase full of flowers, or a plate of raspberries – that hung inside the show. Both lent for the show by the Louvre, and much admired by LVMH CEO, and Anderson's ultimate boss, French billionaire, Bernard Arnault, who studied them carefully. As did Jonathan's proud parents, his rugby playing father and one-time captain of the Irish national rugby team Willie, and his elegant schoolteacher mum, Heather. See catwalk Post show, when asked his thoughts on the show, Arnault told 'It was, frankly, magnifique!' Though perhaps the most chatter this fashion sea change inspired was thanks to Anderson's idiosyncratic invitation – a ceramic white plate with three ceramic eggs. Like the solid stools, there was a sense of reassurance. Back when Jonathan was a teen growing up in the outskirts of the small town of Magherafelt in County Derry, his first teenage job was gathering eggs from a local farm. 'Next thing you know, we came back home and there was a sign, 'eggs for sale.' He as selling them. Jonathan has always been an incredibly hard worker. He puts his head down and never stops. But he is still the same person we knew when he left Northern Ireland. And we like that,' said his proud dad.
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
My go-to summer dress that's so versatile I have it in 3 colours is £10 in deal stack
Summer has finally arrived, but with the sunny weather comes the perennial challenge of finding an outfit that is comfortable, cool, flattering for any occasion and doesn't break the bank. This year, I've struck gold in the wardrobe department with the ultimate summer dress that ticks all these boxes so well that I now own it in three colours and it's currently available for less than £10 for shoppers who do one simple thing. Currently, shoppers are spoilt for choice with plenty of pretty and stylish summer dress options to choose from to make the most of the warm weather. What's more, many of them are discounted in mid-season sales as retailers vie with each other to try and tempt shoppers to make a payday purchase. The best deals currently are courtesy of Boden, with many of their stunning summer dresses currently up to 50% off. However, when I can get three Uniqlo Ultra Stretch Dresses for less than the cost of one of Boden's iconic Clara Cotton Shirt Dresses even when it's half price in the sale, it's a bit of a no-brainer. The Uniqlo ultra stretch dresses are currently £24.90 on the brand's website and available in seven different colours. Yet, savvy shoppers can snag one for less than a tenner by stacking deals on a money-saving website. TopCashback is offering new members who sign up for a free account a £15 sign-up bonus on their first purchase from thousands of online retailers, plus additional cashback on eligible spends. By signing up through this link and purchasing the dress from Uniqlo, customers could effectively pay only £9.25 for the dress after receiving their cashback. Uniqlo's ultra stretch dress has essentially become my heatwave staple. I've been rotating the three colours I currently own (black, a cheery cornflower blue and a paler white option which I dyed lavender in my washing machine) throughout the week, paired with a pair of comfortable yet still smart-looking £35 Skechers sandals and, if the weather cools slightly, a denim jacket. As a long-standing fan of Uniqlo, I found myself frequently reaching for one of their shorter skater style designs last summer. The retailer has revisited this 2024 best-seller for the new season, reports the Manchester Evening News, but by making some key alterations they have essentially transformed it into my ideal dress. Like many women, after a long winter I felt slightly self-conscious about my body as the heatwave hit and I had to ditch my multiple layers. This skims curves without sticking to them or highlighting anything I feel self conscious about and has a pleasing swish to it that never fails to put a spring in my step when I wear it. The cool, sleeveless style combined with a high neck creates a flattering silhouette that eases my usual concerns about my arms appearing untoned. It's also a versatile style that looks professional for work but casual enough for the weekend, depending on how you accessorise it. Standing at 5'8", the new midi length reaches mid-calf on me. There is also a shorter version of the dress, which costs £19.90 but having tried them both the longer option feels like the perfect length for being out and about with the kids without worrying about an unexpected summer breeze revealing more than I'd like. It also features two generous pockets, which means if I'm just popping out on the school run, it can hold my phone, keys and a lip balm without the need for me to carry a bag. It seems I'm not alone in my love for this dress, it has garnered a strong 4.6-star rating out of 5 from 196 reviewers on the site. One satisfied customer leaving a five star review said: "I now have four of these dresses and I love them. They can be dressed up or down, are fantastic for holidays and trips away as they just don't crease and wash beautifully. They're wonderfully comfortable. I'm a huge fan!" Another shopper described the dress as 'excellent,' adding: "I bought the blue version and I was absolutely flabbergasted on how it fits and feels. I'm 5.4 and 70 but this dress fits perfectly and it just skims the body showing no bumps etc. I'm a V shape broad across the back/shoulders and slim on the hips but got the XL size to accommodate the top half of me. "This dress is perfect for holidays, it folds small but with sandals or heels and bold jewellery it looks perfect for the evenings. So I went mad and bought four other colours and they do not disappoint. Love it." Not everyone had the same experience, however, with a less impressed shopper explaining why they gave it three stars: "The dress was cute but the length of the body was a bit too long for my torso which meant it hit me at the wrong place and the waist was too clingy. I'm sure if you aren't super short like me it would be ok. I'm a size 16 and I just didn't feel that it flattered my shape." Register for free on TopCashback using this link. Find Uniqlo through the TopCashback search, then proceed to shop as usual. Get £15 cashback on any purchase of £15 or more, including on the Ultra Stretch summer dress. Your TopCashback 'Earnings' page should show the tracked cashback within seven days following your purchase.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
My go-to summer dress that's so versatile I have it in 3 colours is £10 in deal stack
My go-to summer dress that's so versatile I have it in 3 colours is £10 in deal stack Uniqlo's stretch dress has won hundreds of fans for how it skims without clinging and we've spotted a way to save 60% on its usual £24.90 price Uniqlo's flattering stretch dress has won fans for its versatility and comfort (Image: Uniqlo ) Summer has finally arrived, but with the sunny weather comes the perennial challenge of finding an outfit that is comfortable, cool, flattering for any occasion and doesn't break the bank. This year, I've struck gold in the wardrobe department with the ultimate summer dress that ticks all these boxes so well that I now own it in three colours and it's currently available for less than £10 for shoppers who do one simple thing. Currently, shoppers are spoilt for choice with plenty of pretty and stylish summer dress options to choose from to make the most of the warm weather. What's more, many of them are discounted in mid-season sales as retailers vie with each other to try and tempt shoppers to make a payday purchase. The best deals currently are courtesy of Boden, with many of their stunning summer dresses currently up to 50% off. However, when I can get three Uniqlo Ultra Stretch Dresses for less than the cost of one of Boden's iconic Clara Cotton Shirt Dresses even when it's half price in the sale, it's a bit of a no-brainer. The Uniqlo ultra stretch dresses are currently £24.90 on the brand's website and available in seven different colours. Yet, savvy shoppers can snag one for less than a tenner by stacking deals on a money-saving website. TopCashback is offering new members who sign up for a free account a £15 sign-up bonus on their first purchase from thousands of online retailers, plus additional cashback on eligible spends. By signing up through this link and purchasing the dress from Uniqlo, customers could effectively pay only £9.25 for the dress after receiving their cashback. Uniqlo's stretch summer dress is writer Narin Flanders' heatwave go-to and there's now a way to get it for less than a tenner (Image: Narin Flanders ) Uniqlo's ultra stretch dress has essentially become my heatwave staple. I've been rotating the three colours I currently own (black, a cheery cornflower blue and a paler white option which I dyed lavender in my washing machine) throughout the week, paired with a pair of comfortable yet still smart-looking £35 Skechers sandals and, if the weather cools slightly, a denim jacket. As a long-standing fan of Uniqlo, I found myself frequently reaching for one of their shorter skater style designs last summer. The retailer has revisited this 2024 best-seller for the new season, reports the Manchester Evening News, but by making some key alterations they have essentially transformed it into my ideal dress. Like many women, after a long winter I felt slightly self-conscious about my body as the heatwave hit and I had to ditch my multiple layers. This skims curves without sticking to them or highlighting anything I feel self conscious about and has a pleasing swish to it that never fails to put a spring in my step when I wear it. The cool, sleeveless style combined with a high neck creates a flattering silhouette that eases my usual concerns about my arms appearing untoned. It's also a versatile style that looks professional for work but casual enough for the weekend, depending on how you accessorise it. Standing at 5'8", the new midi length reaches mid-calf on me. There is also a shorter version of the dress, which costs £19.90 but having tried them both the longer option feels like the perfect length for being out and about with the kids without worrying about an unexpected summer breeze revealing more than I'd like. It also features two generous pockets, which means if I'm just popping out on the school run, it can hold my phone, keys and a lip balm without the need for me to carry a bag. Writer Narin Flanders has three versions of the best-selling summer dress (Image: Narin Flanders ) It seems I'm not alone in my love for this dress, it has garnered a strong 4.6-star rating out of 5 from 196 reviewers on the site. One satisfied customer leaving a five star review said: "I now have four of these dresses and I love them. They can be dressed up or down, are fantastic for holidays and trips away as they just don't crease and wash beautifully. They're wonderfully comfortable. I'm a huge fan!" Another shopper described the dress as 'excellent,' adding: "I bought the blue version and I was absolutely flabbergasted on how it fits and feels. I'm 5.4 and 70 but this dress fits perfectly and it just skims the body showing no bumps etc. I'm a V shape broad across the back/shoulders and slim on the hips but got the XL size to accommodate the top half of me. "This dress is perfect for holidays, it folds small but with sandals or heels and bold jewellery it looks perfect for the evenings. So I went mad and bought four other colours and they do not disappoint. Love it." Not everyone had the same experience, however, with a less impressed shopper explaining why they gave it three stars: "The dress was cute but the length of the body was a bit too long for my torso which meant it hit me at the wrong place and the waist was too clingy. I'm sure if you aren't super short like me it would be ok. I'm a size 16 and I just didn't feel that it flattered my shape." Get hold of Uniqlo's must-have summer dress for £9.25 by following these steps: Register for free on TopCashback using this link. Article continues below Find Uniqlo through the TopCashback search, then proceed to shop as usual. Get £15 cashback on any purchase of £15 or more, including on the Ultra Stretch summer dress. Your TopCashback 'Earnings' page should show the tracked cashback within seven days following your purchase.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman uses genius household item to fly without paying for cabin baggage
Packing for a weekend getaway can be a struggle when you're trying to keep costs low - but one woman has shared a simple trick to avoid paying cabin bag fees We all want to score the best deals when jetting off to soak up some sun abroad. But with major airlines cracking down on luggage allowances, packing for a quick weekend getaway has become tricky — and often expensive — especially when you're trying to keep costs low. Luckily, one savvy traveller has shared a clever hack that lets you avoid paying for a cabin or underseat bag altogether. If you've already visited far-flung places like Australia or South America, chances are you might already own the perfect item for this trick. Instead of splashing out on an extra carry-on, TikToker Nina Edwine showed how much you can actually fit inside an empty travel pillow cover. Not only does this keep your clothes safe, but the packed pillow also doubles as a comfy cushion for those long flights. Don't be fooled by its small size — Nina stuffed the pillow with plenty of clothes. In her video, the German traveller unpacks a non-padded bra, a strappy dress, multiple tops, a stunning red co-ord, and more — totalling ten pieces of clothing. She revealed that this stash was enough to put together 'more than six' different outfits. Proud of her budget-friendly hack, Nina said: 'Smart trick to avoid paying 50 euros (£42) for cabin luggage.' While some airlines allow a small free cabin bag, their size restrictions often aren't enough — making this hack a game-changer. The clip has gone viral, racking up over 2.6 million views on TikTok, with more than 75,000 likes and nearly 1,900 comments. 'This is actually genius, for real,' one user commented, liked over 4,100 times. Another was amazed: 'Wait, you fit so much stuff in there!' A third said: 'Legendary… how have I never thought of this?' And one more chimed in: 'Love doing this — it saves so much space.' One fashion-savvy viewer added: 'One of those Uniqlo crossbody bags fits loads. Wear it under your coat with a scarf to hide the strap.' It comes after another influencer shared a simple trick that will help you get an entire row to yourself on your next flight. Maddie revealed she had signed up for a service called Neighbour Free when she flew with Etihad. In a video posted to her social media platforms, she explained: "I bid on the seats next to me on the plane, and if the flight isn't completely full when I board, I get the whole row to myself. It's basically like Business Class in Economy. I can lie down, sleep, all that." The content creator was "excited" to discover she had "won" the seats, meaning she had the entire row to herself. Maddie managed to sleep for eight of the 13.5-hour long-haul flight. When asked how much this luxury had cost her, Maddie revealed in the comments section of her video that she had paid £200 to upgrade to three seats. In response to a suggestion that it might have been cheaper to upgrade to Business Class, she retorted: "Business Class upgrade would have cost £1,900++."
