Japan’s industrial output recovered further last month after a record drop in March due to the earthquake and tsunami. Disruptions caused by the twin disasters resulted in carmakers being forced to halt production as a result of parts shortages. However, it looks as if the situation continues to improve after output rose by 0.8% last [...]
Japanese shares rose more than 3% earlier today following some much needed good news. Stock markets were boosted by the news that Japanese carmakers, Toyota and Honda, may restart production this week, while it was revealed that progress is being made in containing radiation leaks. In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami on 11 [...]
Finance ministers of the group of seven nations have agreed to intervene to stabilise the Japanese yen – which has reached record highs this week. Earlier this week, the yen reached a post-war record high against the US dollar following last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. The disasters also sent global shares into freefall earlier this [...]
Asian shares and the yen have dropped after a 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan. The earthquake hit the northeast coast of Japan, followed by a 13-foot tsunami wave sending shares tumbling. Shares had already lost ground following weak economic data and the Middle East turmoil. Japan’s Nikkei index was 1.7% lower, but Nikkei futures lost [...]
The Cabinet Office has today revealed the Japanese economy contracted by 1.3% in the October to December period – slightly worse than the first estimate of 1.1%. Today’s estimate is the second reading, a third and final estimate will be available next month. The downward revision was attributed to an expired Government incentive for low-emission [...]
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has today cut Japan’s credit rating from AA to AA-, the first time in nine years such measures have been taken. The credit rating agency cited the country’s mounting debt worries for the downgrade. Japan’s debt currently stands at almost twice the country’s annual economic output – this compares with 136.8% [...]
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has today left interest rates at almost zero, in a bid to boost the economy and continue its battle against deflation. The Japanese recovery has been faltering of late and exports, a crucial driver for economic growth, continue to slow. In addition, a strong yen could be damaging for the [...]
Official data today revealed Japan’s economy grew strongly in the July to September period after the expiry of a Government incentive prompted a rush of car buyers and a sharp rise in cigarette sales before a new tobacco tax was levied. In addition, the hottest summer ever boosted sales of air conditioners and other related [...]
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has today left interest rates at almost zero, in a bid to boost the economy and continue its battle deflation. The move follows its surprise decision last month to cut interest rates to this level. The Japanese recovery has been faltering of late and exports, a crucial driver for economic [...]
The US dollar has fallen to a fresh 15-year low today against the Japanese yen and also fell against the euro. Many are calling this week “the busiest week in decades” as interest rate decisions are expected across the globe. US central bank, the Federal Reserve, could be set to provide extra stimulus to strengthen [...]
The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry has revealed Japanese industrial output fell in September – the fourth consecutive monthly fall. Figures show output fell 1.9% in September compared with the previous month – way below expectations of a 0.6% fall. However, the fall was attributed to the strong yen, which is weakening demand for [...]
Government data has today revealed a further slowdown in Japanese exports in September. While the figures exceeded expectations, exports still grew at their slowest pace this year, as the strong yen weakens demand for exports and threatens the economic recovery. Exports rose 14.4% in September to 5.84 trillion yen on an annual basis – well [...]
China has today hit back at the US saying it will continue to reform its currency policy – but at its own pace. The US has been pressuring China to let the value of its currency, the yuan, appreciate against other currencies. In June, Beijing loosened its currency peg and, while the move was welcomed, [...]
Japanese core private-sector machinery orders – a highly volatile series seen as an indicator of corporate spending – surged 10.1% in August – confounding expectations of a 4.5% fall. The increase in orders represented the third consecutive monthly rise, according to the Cabinet Office, and follows June’s 1.6% increase and July’s 8.8% growth. The surprise [...]
The US dollar has fallen to a fresh 15-year low against the Japanese yen today after this weekend’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting in Washington failed to resolve the currency issue. Last week, the IMF expressed its concern for a currency war and said if Governments across the world use exchange rates as a [...]
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has expressed his concern for a currency war. According to Mr Strauss-Kahn, if Governments across the world use exchange rates as a policy weapon, there could be a serious risk to global economic recovery. His comments come ahead of the IMF and World Bank annual [...]
The Bank of Japan has today cut interest rates to almost zero, in a bid to boost the economy and continue its battle deflation. Last week, figures revealed Japanese core consumer prices fell 1.0% in August compared with a year ago – representing the 18th consecutive monthly decline that the world’s no.2 economy has been [...]
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has today revealed Japan’s industrial output fell for the third month in a row in August, raising further fears about the strength of the economic recovery. Output fell 0.3% in August, way below analysts expectations of a 1.1% rise. The Ministry is forecasting production to fall 0.1% in [...]
The Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) closely watched quarterly Tankan survey has revealed business confidence continues to rise, despite concerns about a strong yen. The Tankan index revealed business confidence among major manufacturers had picked up for the sixth consecutive quarter, rising to a better than expected reading of 8 in September, from 1 in June. [...]
Government data has today revealed a further slowdown in Japanese exports in August – the sixth consecutive month in which they have eased. The figures raise concern that the economic recovery is faltering. Exports rose 15.8% in August to 5.22 trillion yen on an annual basis – well below the 45.3% high seen in February. [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
About | Privacy | Disclaimer | Resources | XML Feeds | Press Releases | Directory | Contact us
