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In a move that reverberated across global financial markets, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) recently bid farewell to its negative interest rate policy – the last of its kind in the world. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the realm of central banking and has far-reaching implications for economies and investors worldwide. The Negative …
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SoftBank Group has reportedly sold its entire holding of Nvidia shares, cashing in approximately $5.83 billion to fuel its expanding investments in artificial intelligence The Japanese tech conglomerate offloaded 32.1 million shares in October 2025, marking a strategic pivot away from the chipmaker that once anchored its Vision Fund portfolio. The sale coincided with SoftBank’s …
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After decades of economic sedation, Japan’s long-term bond yields are rising with a vengeance. The 30-year government bond has breached 3.286%—its highest level on record—while the 20-year yield has climbed to 2.695%, a peak not seen since 1999. These aren’t just numbers; they’re seismic signals of a nation confronting its delayed past, now its deferred …
Continue reading “Japan’s yield curve bites back as it hits new highs!”
Japan’s economy has hit a troubling patch, with July 2025 marking its sharpest export contraction in over four years. The Ministry of Finance reported a 2.6% year-on-year drop, driven largely by tariff led trade tensions and weakening global demand. The most dramatic impact came from the United States, where exports fell 10.1%, led by a …
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Japan has been jolted by a dramatic spike in rice prices, which surged by 101.7% year-on-year in May 2025 – the most significant increase in over fifty years. This sharp rise in the cost of the country’s staple food has contributed heavily to Japan’s inflation, which jumped to 3.7%, marking its highest point since January …
Japan’s inflation figures for April 2025 have revealed a continued rise in consumer prices, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbing 3.6% year-on-year. This marks a sustained period of inflation above the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) target of 2%, prompting speculation about potential interest rate hikes later in the year. Core inflation, which excludes fresh …
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Japan’s core inflation rate rose to 3% in February, exceeding market expectations of 2.9% This marks the 35th consecutive month that inflation has remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. While the figure is slightly lower than January’s 3.2%, it reflects persistent price pressures, driven by rising food and wage costs. Government subsidies for …
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Japan’s economy showed modest growth in 2024 The economy expanded by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, which was higher than market expectations of 0.3%. However, for the full year, Japan’s GDP growth was just 0.1%, a significant slowdown from the 1.5% growth seen in 2023. Exports played a key role in boosting economic growth during …
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The Bank of Japan recently raised its interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.5%, marking the highest level since 2008 This decision was influenced by sustained inflation and rising wages, signalling a cycle in the economy. The move was expected by many economists and resulted in the Japanese yen strengthening against the dollar. The …
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Bank of England holds UK interest rate at 5% Interest rates are “now gradually on the path down”, the Bank of England governor reportedly said after borrowing costs were held at 5%. He later reportedly remarked that inflation had “come down a long way” but warned the Bank would need to see more evidence that …
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Japan’s benchmark indices plummeted on Friday 2nd August 2024, with most Asia-Pacific markets lower after a sell-off on Wall Street created recession worries. The Nikkei 225 index plunged around 5.80% to close at 35909, its most significant fall since March 2020, dipping below the 36000 for the first time since January 2024. The Nikkei recently …
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On Friday 28th June 2024, the Japanese yen dropped to its lowest point in 38 years, surpassing the 161 threshold against the dollar reached for the first time since December 1986. The yen has faced challenges, slipping beyond the 160 mark again. Since the Bank of Japan concluded its negative interest rate policy and reportedly …
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Arm, with a 90% holding by SoftBank, is reportedly set to establish an AI chip unit with the goal of developing a prototype by spring 2025. This initiative is aimed at catching up with the booming AI market, currently dominated by Nvidia. Arm, alongside competitors such as AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm, is accelerating efforts to …
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Japan’s Nikkei 225 index briefly surpassed 41000, reaching a new all-time high on Friday 22nd March 2024, as the nation’s inflation rate reportedly accelerated in February 2024. Other Asia-Pacific markets experienced declines. The headline inflation rate in Japan for February 2024 was reported at 2.8%, an increase from the 2.2% recorded in January 2024. The …
Japan’s Nikkei 225 hit a record high of: 39098 on Thursday 22nd February 2024. The rally was propelled by electronics, banking and consumer stocks as robust earnings and investor-friendly measures fuel a blistering rally in Japanese equities. The Nikkei 225 jumped 2%, surpassing the previous record high of 38,915.87 reached in 1989. Standout performance Both the Nikkei …
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After a decade-long bull run throughout the 1980’s, the Nikkei 225 index reached an all-time high of 38,915 on December 29, 1989, the last trading day of the year. Few could have imagined, on New Year’s Eve of 1989, that the index would be lower 34 years later. As the New Year arrived, the bubble burst. And …
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Masayoshi Son says AI to surpass human intelligence and that SoftBank will ‘rule the world’. Oh dear…! Main points in brief Masayoshi Son and SoftBank The 66-year-old founded SoftBank, which still controls about 90% of Arm Holdings after the IPO, back in 1981 after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley. Forbes estimates his net …
Japan’s economy beats expectations with 6% annualised growth in Q2 Japan’s economy posted its third straight quarterly expansion, latest government data showed 15th August 2023, as robust export growth contributed to an annualised 6% expansion in the second quarter, easily beating market expectations. Economists had reportedly expected the world’s third-largest economy to produce a 3.1% growth in …
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15 year high… and counting The Bank of England (BoE) announced another increase in its base rate, from 5% to 5.25%, the highest level in over 15 years as of 3rd August 2023. This is the 14th consecutive rise since December 2021, when the BoE started to tighten monetary policy in response to rising inflation. …
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Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index surged past the 50,000 mark for the first time in history, marking a symbolic milestone for Asia’s second-largest economy. The rally reflects a potent mix of domestic resilience, global investor appetite, and strategic policy shifts that have redefined Japan’s market narrative. The breakthrough comes amid renewed optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade …
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The U.S. bond market is experiencing some turbulence due to rising Treasury yields and concerns over government debt. Investors are demanding higher yields because they’re worried about the GOP’s tax-cut plans, which could lead to increased borrowing and a larger deficit. Additionally, the recent Trump tax bill has caused Treasury bond yields to surge, as …
Tokyo, 12th September 2025 — The Nikkei 225 has surged to an all-time intraday high of 44,888.02, before settling at 44,768.12 at the close. This marks a weekly gain of 3.8%, fuelled by a potent cocktail of AI optimism, global rate-cut hopes, and a tech-heavy rally that has left analysts both exhilarated and uneasy. Rally …
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In a sweeping rally that spanned continents and sectors, major global indices surged to fresh record highs yesterday, buoyed by cooling inflation data, renewed hopes of U.S. central bank rate cuts, and easing trade tensions. U.S. inflation figures released 12th August 2025 for July came in at: 2.7% – helping to lift markets to new …
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There are increasingly credible signs that U.S. stocks may be heading into a deeper adjustment phase. Here’s a breakdown of the key indicators and risks that suggest the current stumble could be more than a seasonal wobble. It’s just a hypothesis, but… 🧠 Sentiment & Positioning: Optimism with Defensive Undercurrents 🌍 Macroeconomic Risks: Tariffs, Fed …
Global markets have shown resilience in the past three days, rebounding from recent downturns as technology stocks rally amid cautious optimism. The boost in investor confidence follows strong earnings reports from major tech firms, highlighting their ability to weather economic uncertainty. However, lingering concerns about international trade tensions raise questions about how sustainable this recovery …
In a bold move to establish as a global leader in artificial intelligence, the United Kingdom is undertaking an ambitious initiative to develop a homegrown competitor to OpenAI. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance the nation’s computing infrastructure and foster innovation in AI technology. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration has committed …
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