Japan

The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the issue, reported that the 'International Energy Agency' has proposed the 'largest release in oil reserves history to lower a soaring crude price? due to the U.S./Israel war against Iran. WSJ reported that the release of oil would be greater than the 182,000,000 barrels?of crude oil that IEA members countries released in two releases in 2022, when Russia began its full-scale 'invasion' of Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported that the IEA will convene an extraordinary meeting with its member states 'on Tuesday. They are expected to 'decide on the proposal -...

During a 'online meeting' with the Group of Seven Finance Ministers, Satsuki Katayama, Japanese Finance minister told a press briefing that IEA called for a coordinated release?of emergency?oil reserve during a?online meeting on Monday. Katayama stated that the IEA had asked each country to release oil reserves in a coordinated manner. "In response to current conditions... the G7 has agreed to closely monitor developments on the energy?market, and to take the necessary measures to support the global energy supply. This includes releasing oil reserves." Katayama stated that the IEA and the Ministers were joined by executives from the World Bank,...

Investors are rethinking popular themes and trades of 2026 due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Global equities have plummeted, the dollar has risen and traders have reduced their bets on rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Investors have been preparing for growth this year. "A stagflationary surprise was not part of the plan", said ING's head of global markets Chris Turner. Investors are cautious and still have more to unwind. Here are five popular topics that have been "upended" by the conflict in Middle East. 1/ DOLLAR SHORTS SQUEEZED According to data released by the U.S. regulator...

The oil prices are soaring, while the share market is tumbling on the fear that the escalating U.S./Israeli war against Iran will cut energy'supplies and hamstring industry?all over the world. The following?are?actions?that governments are taking, or plan to take?to reduce the impact of war on their economies. SOUTH KOREAN PLANS FUEL CAPITAL South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced?on?Monday that the authorities will cap domestic fuel prices?for?the first?time in almost 30 years. He said that the country would also "look for energy sources beyond those shipped through the Strait of Hormuz" and a 100 trillion won (67 billion dollars) programme...

The administration of President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Japan would?finance three projects worth $36 billion, including an oil-export facility in Texas, a diamond plant in Georgia, and a natural-gas power plant in Ohio. Trump stated on Truth Social that the projects were part of Japan's $550 Billion U.S. Investment pledge, as part a trade agreement that reduced Trump's tariffs against Japanese imports by 15%. Trump gave very few details on the projects. In a statement, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the Portsmouth, Ohio, power plant would be the world's largest natural gas-fired generation facility with a capacity?9.2...

Idemitsu Kosan, a Japanese oil refiner, announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Australia's Graphinex and Marubeni, a trading house, to create a Japan-Australian supply chain for graphite-based materials. Idemitsu stated that the four companies are aiming to reduce procurement risk for Japan's batteries industry and strengthen supply-chain reliability across Asia. Anode materials are in high demand due to the global increase of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Japan is heavily reliant on graphite imports, so ensuring a stable supply of this material is a major challenge. China has the largest graphite deposits in the world...

Japan's No. Idemitsu Kosan, Japan's No. Idemitsu collaborates with Toyota Motor in order to commercialise the next-generation batteries. This will help Toyota Motor achieve its goal of launching all-solid state batteries-equipped electric vehicles by 2027-2028. This decision marks the beginning of a 'next phase towards commercialisation. Solid-state batteries are a hot topic among automakers and battery manufacturers. They're hailed as a key component to?longer-lasting, safer and more affordable electric vehicles. Idemitsu develops mass-production technologies for solid electrolytes - a key component of solid state batteries - and manufactures samples in two small-scale facilities, one of which is primarily focused on...

The "Sell America' trade is back in the news, and even though it may quieten down after reports of U.S. president Donald Trump's possible Greenland deal it's safe to assume that it won't?go away. We've done this before. Last year, the term "de-dollarization", which was coined by Trump's tariffs-based trade war, became a buzzword. Investors were worried that they would reduce their exposure to U.S.-based assets. This?didn’t happen. U.S. Treasury official figures show that foreigners purchased a net of $1.27 trillion in U.S. Securities during the first eleven months of last year. This was primarily due to a flood of...

The latest trade war and foreign policy salvos from Donald Trump are upsetting the global markets. But the question is if these ructions escalate or disappear, like they did in the past 12 months. It is more likely that the latter scenario, but it is clear that investors struggle to accurately price the fundamental shifts of the geopolitical plates. The changes that have already occurred in 2026 will be truly astounding. The Trump administration removed Venezuela's leader, and it appears that he is now the de facto ruler of the Latin American nation. The threat of an American response is...

By America Hernandez PARIS, January '14 - French giant TotalEnergies signed an agreement to sell its 10% non-operated stake in the Nigerian oil asset SPDC (renamed Renaissance JV) to Vaaris. This follows a failed sale to Mauritius based Chappal Energies last year. Total retains a 'full economic interest in the?deal, which includes stakes of three other licenses that produce mainly?gases for Nigeria LNG. The company did not provide any further information on the buyer. The inability of the buyer to pay the $860 million price tag was the reason why Nigerian regulators rejected Total's first deal with Chappal Energies for...

The day ahead for European and global markets on Thursday Donald Trump has been the subject of many headlines over the last 24 hours. He promised to stop defense contractors from paying dividends and buying back shares until weapons production increased. He supported a bipartisan bill that targeted countries doing business in Russia. The United States was also removed from dozens of U.N. and international organizations. His vice president said that the U.S. would exert "incredible" pressure on Venezuela by controlling its oil sales. Trump's plans for Greenland are also worth mentioning. But the markets don't seem to give a...

Eli Lilly's market value surpassed $1 trillion on Friday. It is the first pharmaceutical company to join the exclusive club of tech giants, and it highlights its growth as a weight loss powerhouse. The explosive growth in the weight loss drug market has been a major factor behind the more than 35% increase in the stock price of the company this year. As new and highly effective treatments for obesity have hit the market in the past two years, this category has become one of the most profitable segments in healthcare. The world's top-selling drug is now Lilly's Tirzepatide. It's...

Australia's Lynas Rare ?Earths has revamped its supply agreement with ?Japan Australia Rare Earths, securing a firm annual commitment ?for 5,000 tonnes of ?neodymium-praseodymium, a key ?rare-earth magnet ?material. Japan Australia Rare Earths has committed to buying half of Lynas' total heavy rare Earth production. JARE, a joint venture between the state-run Japan Organization?for Metals and Energy Security and Sojitz Corp., has provided Lynas A$200,000,000?in order to increase production of heavy and light rare earth materials. CEO Amanda Lacaze said the deal would provide Japan's industry with "reliable" supplies of rare earth products. The agreement keeps Lynas’ total capacity of...

The demand for gold in India slowed this week due to volatile prices amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Premiums in China remained 'firm' on a rise in investment demand. The closure of airspace in the region has sharply reduced supply, resulting in a reduction of discounts across India. Retail buyers in India are having a hard time digesting the steep price increase. Gold is now unaffordable at these prices, said Varghese Aukka, managing Director of Jos Alukkas in Thrissur, Kerala. On Friday, the price of gold in India was around 160,000 rupees per 10 grams, up from 169,880 earlier...

Two people who are familiar with the discussions say that Japan and India are in talks to explore rare earth deposits together in Rajasthan's arid state. Tokyo is looking to reduce its reliance on China as a source of magnet manufacturing supplies. India's Mines minister G. Kishan Reddy announced last month that three hard rock deposits of rare earth oxides containing 1,29 million metric tonnes had been identified in Rajasthan state and Gujarat in western India. Sources directly involved in decision-making said that Tokyo expressed interest in the Rajasthan deposits, and planned to send experts there. The sources declined to...

Four sources who were involved in quarterly pricing discussions said that global aluminium producers had pulled their initial premium offers for Japanese buyers or let them expire as they feared the threat posed by a escalating Middle East war to cargoes passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Japan is a major importer of metals in Asia, and the premiums it pays for primary metals shipments over the London Metal Exchange cash price each quarter set the benchmark for this region. South32 and Rio Tinto both offered Japanese buyers premiums for April-June shipments of $250 and $220 per metric ton, respectively,...

As prices rebounded, India's gold?discounts widened the most in 10 months. Meanwhile, China's demand increased as its safe-haven appeal was reflected in the rising premiums of the bullion after the markets returned from Lunar New Year. Indian bullion dealers offer a discount This week, you can save up to $65 on official domestic gold prices - including 6% import duties and 3% sales taxes. Last week, the discount was up to $18. Retail buyers are not ready to purchase at these prices. "For many of them, current prices are just too high to afford," said Ashok JAIN,?proprietor at Mumbai-based wholesaler...

The gold discounts in India reached their largest?in ten months, as a rise in prices?curbed the demand. Meanwhile in China the demand increased as the safe-haven appeal of bullion was reflected in the rising premiums following the return from the Lunar?New?Year holiday. Indian bullion dealers offer a discount This week, you can save up to $65 on official gold prices - including 6% import duties and 3% sales taxes. Last week's savings of up $18 per ounce were included. Retail buyers are simply not ready to purchase at these prices. "For many of them, current prices are just too high...

Three sources reported on Thursday that global aluminium producers offered Japanese buyers premiums between $220 and $250 per metric tonne for shipments from April to June. This is an increase of?13% - 28% over the current quarter, reflecting higher overseas premiums. Japan is one of the largest Asian importers of metal. The benchmark for the region is the premium it pays for primary metals over the London Metal Exchange's cash price each quarter. Japanese buyers have agreed to pay $195 per ton as a premium for the quarter January-March The increase in sales is due to fears of a tightening...

These are the most popular?stories from the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal has not?verified?these stories or?guarantee their accuracy. The Washington Post has lost more than $100 million in the last year due to financial problems that led to the decision to reduce staff by 30% at an earlier date this month. BlueScope Steel, a company based in Australia, said that the revised 'A$15 billion (10.69 billion dollars) proposal by the U.S. Steel Dynamics consortium and 'SGH' does not address the valuation concerns of the firm. It added that there are other ways to increase shareholder value. Wayve, a...

Nippon Steel decided to increase its convertible bond offering to 600 billion yen, the largest in Japan's corporate histories. The company is seeking to refinance their $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel as well as fund business expansion. The company announced on Tuesday it would increase the offering by 50 billion yen in total, in two equal tranches. This was based on the investor demand and the market conditions. It aims to invest 6 trillion dollars yen over the next five-year period, including an investment of $11 billion into U.S. Steel to fund growth. Nippon Steel increased the size of...

Japan's Nikkei average rose on Tuesday, as trading resumed following a long holiday weekend.?Artificial intelligence?related stocks rallied amid speculations of more investment in this hot sector. The Nikkei closed at 57 321.09, up 0.9%, while the Topix gained 0.2%. Last week, it was reported that Nvidia is close to finalising its $30 billion investment into OpenAI as the chipmaker looks to acquire a stake in?one of its largest customers. Nvidia is a bellwether for the AI industry and will report its results on Wednesday. Naoki Fujiwara, senior fund manager of Shinkin Asset Management, said that investors have reacted, even though...

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the White House emergency tariffs were invalid. This was a victory for thousands of businesses. The refund process?has just begun. The court's decision could have a ripple effect on the global economy. It ruled that Donald Trump cannot use the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act in order to levy a broad?tariff on imports. The corporate world spent months adapting to Trump's constantly-evolving policy on trade and his use of tariffs to advance his agenda. Not only to address trade issues, but also to act as a weapon against the policies...

Anglo American reported a $3.7billion loss on Friday, after another writedown of its diamonds business. The miner is pushing ahead with plans to shed its non-core assets as well as complete its merger with?Teck Resources. Anglo has wrapped up an uneven reporting season for London listed mining groups. This highlights the divergent fortunes of the industry as Antofagasta benefitted from rising copper prices, while other diversified peers suffered due to weaker markets in iron ore and diamonds. The company recorded a $2.3bn pre-tax impairment on its De Beers division, reducing carrying value from over $4bn to $2.3bn. Analysts' estimates of...