Japan

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. SoftBank Group has signed a $6.5 billion deal to buy Ampere Computing Holdings in the United States, a chip company founded by Intel’s former president. The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump is considering a proposal to extend Chevron’s license to extract oil in Venezuela. QXO, a building-products distributor, signed a deal with Beacon Roofing Supply. Beacon is valued at approximately $7.7 billion or $11 billion if debt is included. The cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, which is aiming...

Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that potential buyers of Japan's Seven & i stores and Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) U.S. shops have until the end March to express interest and address any antitrust concerns. Bloomberg News reported that some potential buyers have been involved in the process and signed non-disclosure contracts. ACT, the Canadian company that operates Circle-K convenience shops in Canada and the United States has been attempting to buy Seven & i, the struggling Canadian retailer, since August. The Canadian firm is ready to increase its latest offer of $47 Billion. Seven & i, which opposed the takeover bid,...

Alex Miller, CEO of Alimentation Couche-Tard, said that no non-disclosure agreements had been signed regarding potential stores to be sold by Alimentation Couche-Tard and Japan's Seven & i in order to meet U.S. Antitrust requirements for a deal. Earlier that day, a Seven & i spokeswoman said that the companies signed NDAs early in March. The NDAs only covered stores which are likely to be divestiture candidates. Seven & i has not signed a non-disclosure agreement. Miller stated in a call after earnings that they were working together with Seven & i on a marketing package to show what a...

JX Advanced Metals, the metals division of Japan's biggest oil refiner Eneos, saw its shares rise 6.6% on their Tokyo debut after the largest IPO in Japan since 2018. The shares closed at $874 yen, compared to an IPO price per share of 820 yen. The benchmark index rose 0.5%. LSEG data shows that the IPO raised $2.97bn last week. This is the highest amount in Japan since December 2018 when SoftBank Group floated its telecoms unit, surpassing the Tokyo Metro IPO in October last year. JX Advanced Metals, a leader in the manufacture of sputtering target materials that are...

Trade sources reported on Thursday that Saudi Arabia's crude shipments to China, its largest customer, will drop to the lowest level for more than a full year in April. This is partly due to maintenance programs at Sinopec-owned Chinese refineries. Data shows that the OPEC producer, Saudi Arabia, allocated 34 million barrels to its Chinese clients in April, down from 41 millions barrels the previous month. China's drop in demand for Saudi crude oil is despite the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and its allies agreeing to continue with their plan to increase production in April. Sinopec intends...

Alimentation Couche-Tard wants to convince the Japanese people to accept its $47 billion offer for Seven & i. It also wants to address the antitrust concerns which have become a major stumbling-block in its bid to purchase the 7-Eleven owners. Canada's Couche-Tard which owns Circle-K has been pursuing Seven & i since months despite the cold reception it received from the Japanese retailer. If the deal goes through, this would be the largest foreign acquisition in Japan's history. On Thursday, executives from Couche-Tard held their first press conference at Tokyo. This was months after announcing a takeover bid for Seven...

Alimentation Couche-Tard's management will address the antitrust concerns raised by Japan's Seven & i during a visit to Tokyo to advance talks on its $47 billion offer for 7-Eleven's convenience store operator. Circle-K's owner has been pursuing Seven & i since months, despite the cold reception it received from the Japanese retailer giant. If the deal goes through, this would be the largest foreign acquisition in Japan's history. Couche-Tard is holding its first press conference on Thursday in Tokyo since it announced a purchase bid for Seven & i back in August. This was part of their efforts to convince...

Alimentation Couche-Tard, a Canadian company, said Tuesday that it was confident of obtaining the regulatory approvals needed in the United States to purchase Japan's Seven & i Holdings. The latter had said that antitrust laws would prevent any transaction. It said that it was also frustrated by Seven & i’s lack of engagement, despite the fact that both companies have started working together to find a way to get regulatory approval. Stephen Dacus of Seven & i, the CEO who was appointed just last week, reiterated the fact that there are significant regulatory obstacles to a merger. In a press...

JX Advanced Metals (a unit wholly owned by Japan's Eneos Holdings) raised $438.6 billion through its initial public offering, after the shares were priced above their market range. The company valued its initial public offering (IPO) at 761.3 billion Japanese yen, or 820 yen each share. The Tokyo Stock Exchange will debut the shares on March 19. According to LSEG data, the offering is larger than Tokyo Metro's IPO from October and is Japan's largest listing since SoftBank's Telecoms Unit in 2018. JX Advanced Metals, a leader in the manufacture of sputtering target materials that are used to produce thin...

Japan's Seven & i Holdings announced on Monday that it has begun talks with Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard about a plan to sell stores that will set the stage for ACT's $47 Billion takeover bid. Stephen Dacus was named as the new CEO of 7-Eleven last week to help lead the company's recovery and to respond to Couche-Tard's takeover bid. Seven & i said that U.S. Antitrust Law would be a barrier for any deal. Both companies have about 20,000 convenience stores between them. Seven & i wrote to its shareholders Monday that it was proposing the two companies map out...

Artisan Partners is a U.S. investor in Seven & i Holdings. According to a board letter, the American company opposed the Japanese retailer’s succession plan for the CEO and urged it to reconsider a possible takeover. 7-Eleven named Stephen Dacus CEO last week to help lead the company's recovery and to respond to Alimentation Couche-Tard's $47 billion offer to take over. Artisan Partners' letter urged Seven & i, in order to maximize shareholder value, to contact Couche-Tard and discuss its buyout offer. Seven & i was not available to comment immediately outside of business hours. Couche-Tard also did not respond...

Alimentation Couche-Tard, a Canadian company, said that it was in exploratory discussions with third parties regarding a possible sale of U.S.-based stores. This would allow it to gain regulatory approval if it were to reach a deal for the takeover of Japan's Seven & i Holdings. Circle-K, the operator that has bid $47 billion to buy 7-Eleven, has said that it has identified an American portfolio and is currently in discussions to "identify potential acquirers". A spokesperson for Couche-Tard said, "We are committed to working with 7&i to obtain regulatory approvals. We have presented a strong proposal to 7&i to...

Nippon Steel President said Monday that Nippon Steel and the U.S. Government share an understanding that their planned acquisition of U.S. Steel would strengthen the American manufacturing and steel industries. Tadashi Imai, President of Nippon Steel, told reporters that "in my opinion, we and the U.S. Government are moving closer towards a mutual understanding" about how our acquisition will strengthen the U.S. Steel industry and manufacturing by investing, including through equity participation. He declined to give any more details. However, he did say that Japan's largest steelmaker, U.S. Steel, will continue to negotiate with the U.S. Government to reach an...

This week, gold discounts in India reached a record-high of more than eight months as the demand for gold fell after spot prices soared past records. Indian dealers offer a discount Up to $41 per ounce compared to official domestic prices. The domestic gold price hit a record of 89 796 rupees for 10 grams this week. It has risen by over 15% this year. The price is constantly rising. It's reaching new heights every week. "Customers are waiting, just sitting there and watching for a dip," said New Delhi bullion dealer. India's gold exports will drop 85% from the...

The gold discounts in India reached their highest level in almost eight months this week, due to the record-high prices and customers staying away from other major hubs. Jewelers are reporting fewer sales. The rising price of bullion has caused a significant drop in demand. On Thursday, the domestic gold price reached a new record of 87.886 rupees for 10 grams. This week, Indian dealers offered a discount Up to $39 per ounce, including import duties of 6% and sales taxes of 3%, compared to a discount from $10 to $21 the previous week. A Mumbai-based dealer from a bullion...

As major producers around the world prepare for Wednesday's increased tariffs, two major South Korean steelmakers have been evaluating their options to invest in new facilities. They said that the options included investing in operations in the U.S. The U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to increase protection for American producers of steel and aluminum restores global tariffs that are effective at 25% on all metal imports. It also extends these duties to hundreds downstream products, such as nuts and bolts, bulldozers blades and cans. Canada, the largest foreign supplier of aluminium and steel to the U.S.A., Brazil, Mexico, and South...

Mexico is expecting to see a significant increase in the number of companies that are compliant exporting to the U.S., under a regional trading pact, said Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Friday after Washington suspended tariffs on Mexican shipments under the agreement. Ebrard said, in a press conference with President Claudia Sheinbaum that currently, over half of the goods coming from Mexico into the U.S. are compliant to the U.S.MexicoCanada (USMCA), and therefore eligible for the tariff exemption. Announced on Thursday The minister estimated that this figure could rise to between 85% to 90% as companies shift their export practices...

This week, gold demand in India was low due to the near-record prices and jewellers' hesitation to buy at the end of the financial year. Harshad Ajmera, a wholesaler at JJ Gold House Kolkata, said that jewelers were wrapping up their financial accounts and weren't looking to purchase anything new. The Indian financial year runs between April and March 31. On Friday, domestic gold prices traded at around 85,860 rupies per 10 grams after reaching a record of 86592 rupies last month. This week, Indian dealers offered a discount The discount is down from last week's $12 to $27 per...

India's demand for gold improved in the second week of this year, but it remained below normal levels as prices fell from their all-time highs. In China, traders continued to provide discounts as business remained lacklustre. A jeweller in Ahmedabad in India said, "Demand is starting to creep in, as prices are coming down. But many buyers still remain on the sidelines." On Friday, domestic gold prices traded at around 84.750 rupees for 10 grams after reaching a record of 86.592 rupees the previous week. This week, Indian dealers offered a discount The discount is now between $12 and $27...

The Japan Automobile Industry Association urged the Japanese government to protect Japanese automakers against tariffs the United States could impose on autos and auto parts imported from Japan. JAMA chairman Masanori Katayama expressed concern about the economic damage that could be caused to both Japan and the United States if President Donald Trump's government imposes high tariffs on imports of autos from Japan. Trump announced last week that he would impose a 25% tariff on auto imports as early as April 2. Steel and aluminum will be subject to separate 25% tariffs starting March 12. Katayama made his remarks in...

Warren Buffett announced on Saturday that Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate he leads, will likely increase Berkshire Hathaway's ownership of its five Japanese trading companies. In his letter to Berkshire shareholders each year, the billionaire investor stated that Itochu Marubeni Mitsubishi Mitsui Sumitomo and Sumitomo had agreed to "moderately" relax limits which limited Berkshire's stakes to below 10%. Berkshire’s investment in these companies will total $23.5 billion by the year 2024. Buffett wrote that Berkshire's holdings in all five companies will increase over time. Buffett, who is 94 years old, said that he and Berkshire Vice-Chairman Greg Abel, the Berkshire CEO...

Warren Buffett announced on Saturday that Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate he founded, will likely increase Berkshire's ownership of five Japanese trading companies it owns. In his annual Berkshire shareholder letter, the billionaire investor stated that Itochu Marubeni Mitsubishi Mitsui Sumitomo and Mitsui agreed to "moderately loosen" limits on Berkshire's equity stakes. Berkshire’s investment in these companies will total $23.5 billion by the year 2024. Buffett wrote that Berkshire's holdings in all five companies will increase over time. Buffett, who is 94 years old, said that he and Berkshire Vice-Chairman Greg Abel, the Berkshire CEO he has designated as his successor,...

Since Donald Trump returned to office in the United States last month, he has imposed numerous tariffs on imported goods and threatened to do so more frequently. These can be broad - such as a tariff on all imported goods from abroad - or targeted at certain sectors, countries, or regions to try and get them to comply with his demands. Trump's threats are constantly changing, and other nations and businessmen are unsure of what to expect next. Here's a summary of Trump’s threats and actions in relation to trade. BROAD TARIFFS Trump's vision is based on a gradual rollout...

The demand for gold in India fell this week as prices reached a record-high, causing retailers to reduce their retail sales and force dealers to offer discounts. Meanwhile, the demand in China, the world's largest consumer, also declined after Lunar New Year. The consumer is not ready to pay prices that are unprecedented. "They need time to adjust to this price rally," Ashok Jain said, owner of Mumbai-based wholesaler Chenaji Narsinghji. This week, the domestic gold price reached a new record of 86 360 rupees per 10 grams. The price of gold has risen by over 12% in 2025, after...