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Japan dispatches troops to help combat deadly bear attacks
Japan's army deployed troops in the mountainous north of the country on Wednesday, after local authorities urgently requested help to trap bears. The operation started in the town Kazuno where residents have been warned to stay away from the dense forests surrounding it, to come home at night and to carry bells with them to scare off bears who might be foraging near their homes. According to the Environment Ministry, there have been over 100 bear attacks in Japan since April. Twelve people were killed. The environment ministry reports that two-thirds were in Akita Prefecture where Kazuno and Iwate are located. Shinji Sasamoto, Kazuno's mayor, said that the townspeople felt dangers every day after meeting with 15 soldiers in an army vehicle and several jeeps equipped with body armor and large maps. Sasamoto stated that the situation has caused people to cancel or stop attending events. The troops will assist in transporting, setting and inspecting the box traps that are used to catch the bears. However, they will be culled by hunters who have been trained to use weapons better suited for this purpose. Akita authorities say that bear sightings in the area have increased six-fold to over 8,000 this year. The governor of Akita prefecture requested help from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (JSF) last week. The soldiers will then head to Odate and Kitaakita, two cities in Japan, under an agreement that is expected to last through the end of this month. A ATTACK ON HOT SPRING RESORT AND SUPERMARKET In Japan, the increasing bear population, climate-changed shifts in food sources and rural depopulation are causing people to come into more contact with bears. The authorities are now overwhelmed by an ageing group of hunters. In the last few weeks, bears attacked shoppers in a supermarket. They also jumped a waiting tourist at a bus station near a UNESCO World Heritage Site and mutilated a resort worker. A few schools had to close temporarily after bears wandered around the grounds. As the animals begin to forage in preparation for winter hibernation, bear attacks are often at their peak between October and November. Japanese black bears can reach a weight of 130 kg (287 lbs). Hokkaido's brown bears can reach 400 kg. This is not the first occasion that Japan has sent troops to help control wildlife. In the 1960s, the military conducted aerial surveillance of deer hunts and killed sea lions for fisheries protection. The British army also provided logistical assistance in the 2001 mass cull of animals with foot-and mouth disease. Kei Sato, the Deputy Chief Cabinet secretary, told a news conference that Tokyo would announce an emergency package later this month to address the bear issue. This will include recruiting more licensed hunter licenses. In September, the Government relaxed gun laws to allow hunters to more easily shoot bears within urban areas. He said that "as bears continue entering populated areas and bear-related injuries are increasing daily, we cannot afford to delay bear countermeasures."
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Nippon Steel excludes US Steel in its profit guidance due to'significant' market issues
Nippon Steel is Japan's largest steelmaker. It expects to report an annual profit drop of 14% before one-offs in the current fiscal year. However, it did not include its outlook for U.S. Steel due to the significant challenges on the U.S. Market. The Japanese steelmaker is expecting a underlying business gain, or profit adjusted to remove one-offs of 680 billion dollars for the fiscal year ending March. This is down from last year's 793.7 billion dollars. Nippon Steel acquired U.S. Steel for $15 billion in June. The company said that it had excluded the U.S. Steel business from its fiscal year forecast "due the significant decline of the U.S. Steel market, the one-time cost degradation caused by facility problems and other factors and the high level of uncertainty in the U.S. market." The company reported a loss for the six-month period ending in September of 113.4 billion Japanese yen, compared to a profit of 243,4 billion yen during the same time last year. It also said that it expected to report a loss for the full fiscal year of 60 billion Japanese yen (398 million dollars), which was 50% worse than the previous forecast. This is because it would have incurred a loss of 21 billion yen on the sale its stake in Usiminas Steel Manufacturing Company in Brazil. In its results presentation, Nippon Steel announced that its minority stake in Usiminas would be transferred to Ternium. The Japanese company will instead focus on the U.S.A., India, and Thailand. ($1 = 150,7800 yen)
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Dalian iron ore falls further on China's demand concerns
Dalian iron ore prices fell for the fourth consecutive session on Wednesday due to concerns over demand in China, the top consumer. This is because of a persistently low manufacturing sector. The January contract for iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange(DCE) dropped 0.26%, to 776 Yuan ($108.94) per metric ton. As of 0720, the benchmark December iron ore traded on Singapore Exchange was $0.1% higher at $103.7 per ton. A private sector survey revealed on Monday that China's factory activities in October expanded at slower pace due to a decline in new orders and production as a result of tariff worries. Official data released last week showed that China's manufacturing activity declined for the seventh consecutive month in October. The factory activity fell to 49.0 from 49.8 a month earlier and remained below 50, which separates growth from contraction, due to a decline in new orders. Galaxy Futures, a Chinese broker, predicted that iron ore prices would remain low due to a weakening of steel demand and an increase in domestic inventories since the third quarter. Analysts at ANZ stated that although Hebei, a large steelmaking province in China has reissued a environmental protection alert, these measures are still focused on sintering activities and have not yet affected blast furnace activity. This limits the impact of iron ore on demand. The Chinese consultancy Mysteel stated that "China's leading property developers have increased land purchases in the first ten months of 2025. This indicates a cautious recovery in the real estate industry as some developers increase investments despite ongoing financial pressures." Coking coal and coke, which are used to make steel, also lost ground. They fell by 0.47% and 0.03 %, respectively. The benchmark steel prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell. Rebar fell 1.21%, while hot-rolled coils dropped 0.85%. Stainless steel also declined 0.28%. Wire rod ended flat. ($1 = 7.1230 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Lucas Liew; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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Shanghai copper continues to lose money on the back of easing supply problems and soft China demand
Shanghai copper dropped to a record low of more than a week on Wednesday. It was the fourth session in a row that copper prices fell, as Codelco's revised 2025 production target indicated a growth rate for the year. The market was also impacted by a weakening Chinese demand, and the strong dollar. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most active copper contract closed the daytime trading 0.88% lower, at $82,027.24 per metric ton. Shanghai copper fell to 84.900 yuan per ton earlier in the session. This is its lowest level since October 22, when it reached 84.500 yuan per ton. As of 0705 GMT, the benchmark three-month futures on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.1% to $10.653 per ton. Codelco of Chile, the largest copper producer in the world, reduced its output forecast for 2025 on Tuesday. However, the revised target is still above the levels achieved in 2024. The production in the first nine-months of 2025 increased year-over-year. Analysts at Sucden Financial stated that the revised forecast eased near-term concerns about deficits "that had underpinned prices since September". Copper demand in China remained weak, due to high prices. Yangshan Copper Premium The, which measures China's appetite to import copper, was at $35 per ton on Monday, down from $58 late in September, and a significant drop from over $100 in May. The U.S. Dollar remained strong, which weighed on copper. However, it did ease slightly for the day. The strong dollar makes commodities traded in greenbacks more expensive for investors who hold other currencies. Aluminium, zinc, nickel and tin all fell in price. Lead was the only metal to gain, with a 0.17% increase. Aluminium, zinc, lead, and tin all fell in price on the LME. Nickel rose 0.17%. (1 Chinese Yuan = 7.1230 Renminbi)
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BMW increases third-quarter profits for cars, as EV investment ebbs
BMW, the German automaker, increased its core profit margin for the third quarter following further reductions in research and development expenditure on electric vehicles. It is banking on its all-electric series as a growth booster amid fierce competition in China. BMW reported on Wednesday that its automotive division had an operating margin in the period of July to September of 5.2%, compared with 2.3% one year ago. This is higher than the forecast of 4.9% in a poll conducted by the company. Oliver Zipse, BMW CEO, said: "In the third-quarter we have once again proven that our business model has robustness and resilience." The group continued to forecast that the margins for cars would fall between 5 and 6%. This is down from 6.3% in 2020. The group stated that the first model of the all-electric "Neue Klasse" product offensive would drive growth in 2026. However, it said that it has "transitioned", from its record investment last year in its EV Portfolio. Walter Mertl, CFO, said that "we are reaping benefits from having invested in future early. The peak is now behind us." He added that he expects further cost reductions to occur in the fourth-quarter. The group's earnings before interest and taxes were in line with the expectations, at 2.3 billion euro ($2.68 billion). This is a rise of a third on an annual basis following a poor performance in 2024's third quarter when brake problems hit sales. The group's quarterly revenues fell short of expectations by a small amount, at 32 billion euros.
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Ahold Delhaize will launch a $1.2 billion buyback program after Q3 profits beat expectations
Ahold Delhaize, a Dutch supermarket group, announced on Wednesday that it plans to buy back 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) of shares, beginning in 2026, following its third-quarter earnings beating market expectations. Analysts polled by the company had predicted an average of 866 millions euros for the quarter. Ahold said that the strong performance in its U.S. operations, which includes Stop & Shop and Giant chains as well as Hannaford, was a major contributor to this positive result. Sales comparable in the United States excluding gasoline increased by 2.9%. Ahold earns over half its revenue in the United States. The company's financial targets for the full year include an operating margin of 4%, and at least 2,2 billion euros in free cash flow. Ahold's record-breaking sales for the first quarter 2025 may be headed into rougher waters because of rising inflation and the impending expiration of food aid programs in the U.S. "With rising prices, stagnating growth, and government policy changes, the business climate and customer climate are under pressure", said Frans Müller, CEO of Frans Muller, in a press release, pointing out price limitations in Serbia and increased VAT rates in Romania.
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Commodity stocks drag Australian shares down; banks cushion the fall
Australian shares dropped for the second consecutive session on Wednesday, as investors shifted from commodity stocks to banks in search of stability and higher returns amid the cautious policy stance of Australia's central bank. The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.1%, closing at 8,802 points. This is its lowest level since September-end and it now stands 313.2 points lower than its record high of 9115.20 points hit on October 21, 2010. Fortescue fell 2.5% due to lower iron ore, and Rio Tinto too. Gold stocks fell 1.1%, as the sector that recently propelled ASX200 to record levels dropped to follow bullion's overnight decline, posting its third consecutive session of losses. Small-cap producers, like Bellevue Gold ended the day 3.1% lower while Northern Star Resources, a larger producer, lost 0.5%. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Australia's largest lender, rose 1.3%, its highest level since mid-August. This helped limit the benchmark index's losses, and the sub-index of financials closed 0.6% higher. National Australia Bank rose 1.7%. Markets looked to stable, high-yield banks because of inflated valuations, underperformance in certain sectors, and Reserve Bank of Australia’s cautious monetary policies. Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst at KCM Trade, said that CBA shares were benefiting from the current outflow of money in other sectors. The market is experiencing a high level of anxiety. In such circumstances, bellwether bank stocks look more attractive. The technology stocks fell 2.7%, to their lowest level since mid-May. This follows Wall Street's fall amid investor fears about a bubble in the market. Megaport fell 9.7% while WiseTech Global, the sector leader, lost 1.4%. The benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index for New Zealand closed at 13,620.98, up 0.1%.
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Gold prices rebound from near-week-lows on bargain-hunting in advance of US jobs data
Gold prices rose Wednesday as bargain-hunters stepped in following a drop to a low of nearly one week in the previous session. The focus was also placed on U.S. payroll data, which could provide clues about future interest rate reductions. Gold spot rose 0.8%, to $3.961.85 an ounce at 0346 GMT. Bullion dropped more than 1.5% Tuesday, reaching its lowest level since October 30. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery rose by 0.2%, to $3.970.10 an ounce. The dollar was just below the three-month highs reached in the previous session. Jigar Trivedi is a senior currency analysts at Reliance Securities. He said that the demand for safe-haven gold was due to bargain-buying and a broader risk-off mood across financial markets. Investors' concerns over stretched valuations dampened confidence in Wall Street stocks as Asian stocks continued to fall overnight. Trivedi said that gold is under pressure due to the waning expectation of a rate cut in this year. If the ADP data are on the high side, the price could drop further down to $3.900. Last week, the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered interest rates. Chair Jerome Powell said it could be the final reduction of borrowing costs this year. CME's FedWatch Tool shows that market participants see a 69% probability of a December rate cut, down from 90% before Powell's remarks. The Fed's comments have revealed different perspectives on the data gap. Investors are focused on non-official reports due in the afternoon, such as the ADP National Employment Report. Gold that does not yield tends to perform well in low interest rate environments and times of economic uncertainty. Bullion reached a record-high of $4,381.21 in October but has since fallen by about 10%. Other than that, silver spot gained 1.2%, to $46.78 per ounce. Platinum was up by 0.1%, at $1,537.10, and palladium rose 0.2%, at $1394.75. (Reporting and editing by Subhranshu sahu, Eileen Soreng and Ishaan arora)
Zelenskiy to meet IAEA head after see to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday that he will satisfy the head of the international nuclear company in Kyiv after the official check outs the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant that has actually been in Russia's hands because early in the war.
Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear guard dog, stated late on Monday in a post on X that he was on his way to the plant to to continue our support &&. aid avoid a nuclear accident.
The plant in Ukraine's southeast - Europe's biggest nuclear. power plant and now in cold shutdown - was up to Russian soldiers. in the very first days of Moscow's major invasion in 2022.
Both sides have given that often implicated each other of. shelling the plant and both Moscow and Kyiv deny the. accusations.
Zelenskiy and Dutch Prime Minister Cock Schoof visited. Zaporizhzhia on Monday, a city that lies throughout the Dnipro's. wide riverbed to the northeast of the plant, where the Ukrainian. leader repeated his pleas for the West to supply more long-range. weaponry to Kyiv.
Zelenskiy stated that after Grossi visits the plant, he is set. to come to Kyiv for a conference with the Ukrainian leader,. according to a video from Zelenskiy's workplace on social networks.
He likewise stated that at this point of the war, it is not. possible for Ukraine to take back control of the plant.
It is much safer for Ukraine to manage the Zaporizhzhia plant,. however up until now, from the perspective of the battleground, I do not. see such possibilities, and those that probably exist, they are. harmful, Zelenskiy said.
Russian agencies reported on Monday that a high-voltage. power supply line at the plant instantly disconnected, but. the plant's needs are supplied from another line. There was no. reason given for the automated disconnection.
(source: Reuters)