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A group of Japanese companies is advocating for the prioritization of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether for potential exchange-traded funds (ETFs). They argue that the market value and stability of these tokens make them suitable for long-term investment. Japanese regulators have been more cautious about crypto ETFs compared to the US, but there are discussions about potentially reviewing taxation systems to encourage investment in digital assets. The group includes major trust banks, crypto exchanges, and brokerages, and their proposals are aimed at influencing regulatory decisions in Japan. [Extracted from the article]

Effissimo Capital Management Pte, a Singapore-based activist fund, increased its stakes in UACJ Corp. and Sanken Electric Co. during last week's market meltdown in Japan. The fund now holds 17% of UACJ and 25% of Sanken. The purchases were made between July 31 and August 8, with a significant portion acquired on August 5, when the market experienced a steep decline due to concerns over tighter monetary policy. Effissimo may make important proposals to Sanken, while its UACJ stake is a straight investment. The fund also raised its stakes in other Japanese companies, including Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. and Fudo Tetra Corp. [Extracted from the article]

The Tokyo Stock Exchange plans to expand the range of stocks included in Japan's Topix index while reducing the number of constituents. Currently, only large-cap companies listed in the Prime market are included, but companies listed in the Standard and startup Growth markets will now be considered. The first review will take place in October 2026, and the number of companies in the index will be reduced to about 1,200 in 2028. The aim is to increase the appeal of the Topix index as an investable gauge and place a greater emphasis on liquidity. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The Tokyo Stock Exchange is looking to widen the universe of stocks that are included in the benchmark Topix index by including companies listed in the Standard and Growth markets.The first review will take place in October 2026, Japan Exchange Group Inc., the TSE's operator, said in a statement Wednesday. A greater emphasis will be placed on liquidity in reviews, it said.©2024 Bloomberg L.P.By Gareth AllanReported by Author [Extracted from the article]

Seven & i Holdings Co. has denied reports that it plans to list or sell part of its supermarket unit Ito-Yokado, which has been facing competition from discount stores and online retailers. The company is considering setting up a new intermediate holding company for its general merchandising chains, including Ito-Yokado. Activist investor ValueAct has called on Seven & i to improve its valuation and pursue structural reform. The fate of Ito-Yokado has been the subject of speculation, with reports of potential store closures and a potential sale. Seven & i has previously announced a partnership with Ito-Yokado to add more diverse products to its convenience stores. [Extracted from the article]

Seven & i Holdings Co. is considering listing or selling its supermarket unit, Ito-Yokado, due to increasing competition from discount stores and online retailers. The company may set up a new intermediate holding company for its general merchandising chains. Activist investor ValueAct has called on Seven & i to improve its valuation and pursue structural reform. While a decision on whether to list Ito-Yokado has not been made, the company sees a path toward rebuilding its business. Seven & i has previously announced a partnership with Ito-Yokado to diversify its convenience stores. [Extracted from the article]

Seven & i Holdings Co. is considering listing its supermarket unit, Ito-Yokado, due to increasing competition from discount stores and online retailers. The listing process may take several years, and Seven & i is expected to retain shares in the entity. The decision to list Ito-Yokado has not been finalized, according to a company spokesperson. Despite Ito-Yokado's underperformance, Seven & i sees the listing as an opportunity to rebuild its business. The company has previously partnered with Ito-Yokado to expand product offerings in its convenience stores. [Extracted from the article]

Seven & i Holdings, a Tokyo-based retail giant, is reportedly planning to list its troubled supermarket unit, Ito-Yokado. The company has been undergoing restructuring efforts, including a recent job-buyout program that received around 700 applications. It is also considering closing four more stores near Tokyo this summer. President and CEO Ryuichi Isaka is expected to announce the plan along with the company's full-year earnings results. [Extracted from the article]

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) surprised investors by refraining from buying exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Monday, a departure from its usual practice of purchasing ETFs when the stock market declines by 2% or more. This shift in strategy has led to speculation that the BOJ may be preparing to scale back its massive stimulus as early as next week. The BOJ's decision not to buy stocks may reflect its reluctance to provide further support for equities, especially after Japan's Nikkei 225 index recently reached its highest level since the 1989 bubble economy. Some analysts believe that the BOJ may revise its ETF purchasing policy at its upcoming March meeting. [Extracted from the article]

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) surprised market participants by refraining from buying exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Monday, deviating from its usual practice of purchasing when the market falls 2% or more in the morning session. This change in strategy has led to speculation that the central bank may be preparing to scale back its massive stimulus as early as next week. The BOJ's decision not to buy ETFs could also indicate a reluctance to provide further support for equities, particularly after the Nikkei 225 index recently surpassed its 1989 bubble economy high. Investors worldwide are closely monitoring any indications that Japan is moving away from its super-easy monetary policy. [Extracted from the article]

Thailand's central bank Governor, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, has stated that he does not believe an emergency policy meeting is necessary to cut interest rates. He argues that the country's economic issues cannot be resolved by reversing monetary policy. This comes after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called for an urgent rate cut to stimulate demand in an economy struggling with growth below 2%. The Bank of Thailand has previously raised interest rates by 200 basis points, but has recently chosen to keep rates unchanged, citing data dependence and the fact that Thailand's benchmark rate is already low compared to other countries. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda is meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Kyodo News and other local media reported. Read More: Japan's Benchmark Bond Yield Hits Nine-Year High in Test for BOJ Ueda and Kishida met back in early April shortly after the governor took the helm of the BOJ. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's west coast, causing multiple homes to collapse in the city of Suzu on Friday. The quake had a depth of 12 kilometers and hit a seismic intensity of an upper 6 out of 7 on Japan's scale to measure the degree of shaking, the country's weather agency said. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's west coast, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Friday. The quake, with a depth of 10 kilometers, had a shaking intensity of as much as an upper 6 on Japan's earthquake scale, according to the meteorological agency. [Extracted from the article]

The quake, which had a depth of 10 kilometers, had a shaking intensity of as much as an upper 6 on Japan's earthquake scale, according to the meteorological agency. (Bloomberg) -- A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's west coast at 2:42 p.m. local time, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Friday. [Extracted from the article]

A pistol was found near the man, and another officer reported hearing a gunshot, local media earlier reported. (Bloomberg) -- A male riot police officer was found bleeding in a bathroom at the Japanese prime minister's official residence in Tokyo around 4:40 a.m. local time Friday, broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. [Extracted from the article]

Japan's Kishida Says Attack at Campaign Event "Unforgivable" (Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the setting off of an explosive device at an event he attended on Saturday was "unforgivable", vowing to continue campaigning for his party ahead of by-elections this month. The event has chilling echoes of the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a stump speech before last year's upper house elections. [Extracted from the article]

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the missile fired by North Korea Saturday landed within the country's exclusive economic zone off Hokkaido. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea confirmed it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile Saturday and issued new warnings to the US, after parading a record number of rockets through the streets of Pyongyang designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the American mainland. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile, ratcheting up tensions after issuing a warning to the US and parading a record number of rockets through the streets of Pyongyang designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the American mainland. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the missile fired by North Korea earlier Saturday was an apparent ICBM that landed within the country's exclusive economic zone off Hokkaido. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile, ratcheting up tensions after issuing a warning to the US and parading a record number of rockets through the streets of Pyongyang designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the American mainland. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the missile fired by North Korea on Saturday was an apparent ICBM that landed within the country's exclusive economic zone off Hokkaido. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired a suspected long-range ballistic missile, ratcheting up tensions after issuing a warning to the US and parading a record number of rockets through the streets of Pyongyang designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the American mainland. In late January, the US and South Korea announced plans to step up the scale of their joint military exercises, a move that has in the past prompted threats and weapons tests by North Korea. [Extracted from the article]

Wednesday: Tencent (700 HK) will report third-quarter earnings after market close. To subscribe to earnings coverage across your portfolio or other earnings analysis, run NSUB EARNINGS function on the Bloomberg terminal. Third-quarter results from China's second-largest online retailer follow Singles' Day and peer Alibaba's earnings, with Bloomberg Consensus projecting the highest gross margin in two years. [Extracted from the article]

Third-quarter results from China's second-largest online retailer will come on the heels of Singles' Day and peer Alibaba's earnings, with Bloomberg Consensus projecting the highest gross margin in two years. To subscribe to earnings coverage across your portfolio or other earnings analysis, run NSUB EARNINGS function on the Bloomberg terminal. Wednesday: Tencent (700 HK) will report third-quarter earnings after market close. [Extracted from the article]

Friday: SoftBank Group (9984 JP) is set to announce second-quarter earnings after market close. (Bloomberg) -- Asia's earnings reports haven't done much to boost market sentiment yet this season, but this week may bring some bright spots. To subscribe to earnings coverage across your portfolio or other earnings analysis, run NSUB EARNINGS function on the Bloomberg terminal. [Extracted from the article]

Friday: SoftBank Group (9984 JP) is set to announce second-quarter earnings after market close. To subscribe to earnings coverage across your portfolio or other earnings analysis, run NSUB EARNINGS function on the Bloomberg terminal. (Bloomberg) -- With Chinese health officials vowing to "unswervingly" stick to a Covid Zero policy over the weekend, market sentiment is off to a low start this week as hopes dampen that the country will loosen its stringent pandemic control measures, such as city-wide lockdowns. [Extracted from the article]

Results are likely to reveal how much the weak yen has propped up profit amid higher input costs and an expected charge on exiting Russian operations, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tatsuo Yoshida, who also sees room for a profit upgrade. To subscribe to earnings coverage across your portfolio or other earnings analysis, run NSUB EARNINGS function on the Bloomberg terminal. Analyst consensus is also predicting year-over-year profit growth at the world's biggest coal miner, Coal India, at Chinese chipmaker SMIC, and at Nintendo, Nissan and National Australia Bank. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's top police commissioner has submitted his resignation to take responsibility for the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last month, after a probe highlighted major oversights in Abe's security detail. "It's clear that there were shortcomings" in protocol that contributed to the incident, Itaru Nakamura, commissioner general of Japan's National Police Agency, said at a press conference Thursday broadcast by NHK. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese prosecutors alleged that the Tokyo Olympics sponsorship process was tainted by bribery, arresting on Wednesday a former senior member of the organizing committee and three men linked to the clothing company that dressed the Japanese Olympic team. Prosecutors suspect former Tokyo 2020 organizing committee executive board member Haruyuki Takahashi of taking a total of 51 million yen ($378,000) between 2017 and 2021 from executives seeking favorable treatment for sponsorship and licensing contracts. Takahashi denies the allegations and has told prosecutors the payments were a fair amount for sports consulting services, Japanese broadcaster TBS reported late on Wednesday local time, citing an unidentified person. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese prosecutors alleged on Wednesday that the TokyoOlympics sponsorship process was tainted by bribery, arresting a formersenior member of the organizing committee and three men linked to theclothing company that dressed the Japanese Olympic team. Prosecutors suspect former Tokyo 2020 organizing committee executiveboard member Haruyuki Takahashi of taking a total of 51 million yen($378,000) between 2017 and 2021 from executives seeking favorabletreatment for sponsorship and licensing contracts. More than 50 payments were made to the accountof a company run by Takahashi, prosecutors said in a statement. [Extracted from the article]

Prosecutors suspect former Tokyo 2020 organizing committee executiveboard member Haruyuki Takahashi of taking a total of 51 million yen($378,000) between 2017 and 2021 from executives seeking favorabletreatment for sponsorship and licensing contracts. Aoki Holdings Inc. founder and former Chairman Hironori Aoki, formerExecutive Vice Chairman Takahisa Aoki and current Senior ManagingExecutive Officer Katsuhisa Ueda were arrested on suspicion of makingbribes, the company said. (Bloomberg) -- Japanese prosecutors alleged on Wednesday that the TokyoOlympics sponsorship process was tainted by bribery, arresting a formersenior member of the organizing committee and three men linked to theclothing company that dressed the Japanese Olympic team. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese prosecutors alleged on Wednesday that the TokyoOlympics sponsorship process was tainted by bribery, arresting a formersenior member of the organizing committee and three men linked to theclothing company that dressed the Japanese Olympic team. More than 50 payments were made to the accountof a company run by Takahashi, prosecutors said in a statement. Prosecutors suspect former Tokyo 2020 organizing committee executiveboard member Haruyuki Takahashi of taking a total of 51 million yen($378,000) between 2017 and 2021 from executives seeking favorabletreatment for sponsorship and licensing contracts. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants incoming and existing cabinet members and vice ministers to declare their relationships with the Unification Church, the religious organization that was cited by the man accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Kishida said in a briefing in Hiroshima on Saturday. Kishida said he plans to reshuffle the cabinet as soon as next week, confirming earlier reports. [Extracted from the article]

Read more: Pelosi's Taiwan Ambiguity Has China FumingAhead of Biden Call (Bloomberg) -- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planningto visit Japan early next month, Kyodo News reportedWednesday, citing diplomatic sources it didn't name, fora trip that might coincide with a possible stop in Taiwanthat has raised China's ire. [Extracted from the article]

The PIF has been building stakes in video game makers and e-sports firms over the past two years, turning to the Japanese market just as a weaker yen has made investments more affordable. (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund took a 5.01% stake in Nintendo Co., its third investment in a Japanese games company as the industry consolidates. [Extracted from the article]

The PIF, as the $500 billion fund is known, has been building stakes in video game makers and e-sports over the past two years. (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund reported a 5.01% stake in Nintendo Co., according to a filing to Japan's Finance Ministry, adding to investments in the country's games industry. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese travel agency HIS Co. says it plans to resume package holidays to Hawaii starting from May 1 departures, the first time it's operated such tours to one of Japan's favorite destinations since halting them in March 2020 amid pandemic restrictions on travel. The Tokyo-based company says its tours will offer customer support "from pre-departure to return home", including arranging PCR tests and a 24-hour Japanese language support line in Hawaii. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Tokyo found 2,198 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, topping 2,000 for the first time since September 4. New cases jumped more than fivefold compared with 390 a week earlier Serious cases remained unchanged at 4 from yesterday ©2022 Bloomberg L.P. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- North Korea appears to have launched its first ballistic missile in about two months, just days after leader Kim Jong Un indicated that returning to stalled nuclear talks with the U.S. was a low priority for him in the coming year. North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into waters off its east coast Wednesday, South Korea's military said, while Japan's Coast Guard said the object appeared to be a ballistic missile and seems to have already landed. [Extracted from the article]

The launch is North Korea's first of the year and comes days after leader Kim Jong Un urged his state to focus on easing food shortages and containing Covid, in a downbeat New Year's policy assessment that suggested nuclear talks with the U.S. were a low priority for the coming months. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into waters off its east coast Wednesday, South Korea's military said, while Japan's Coast Guard said the object appeared to be a ballistic missile and seems to have already landed. [Extracted from the article]

SMBC Nikko CEO Says He's Taking Trading Probe "Seriously" (Bloomberg) -- SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. Chief Executive Officer Yuichiro Kondo said he's taking "seriously" a probe into company employees by Japan's securities regulator. SMBC Nikko is being investigated by Japan's Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission over "block offerings" that its employees made after trading hours in 2020, local media reported last year. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A cyberattack on Mitsubishi Electric Corp. in January last year included data files that may impact Japan's national security, the defense ministry says. Mitsubishi Electric said at the time of the incident that it was the target of a cyberattack in which client data may have been lost, but at that stage denied that confidential defense or infrastructure information was accessed. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A flotilla of 10 Russian and Chinese warships sailed along the east side of Japan to the country's south, almost making a circle around the nation, Japan's defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Japan dispatched two ships and an aircraft to gather information, the ministry said. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired off two ballistic missiles, its second major test in less than a week of weapons designed to bolster its nuclear capability, prompting the United Nations Security Council to head into an emergency session hours later. The short-range ballistic missiles tested by North Korea on Wednesday were fired about five minutes apart from one another from Yangdok county, South Korea's military said. [Extracted from the article]

The short-range ballistic missiles tested by North Korea on Wednesday were fired about five minutes apart from one another from Yangdok county, South Korea's military said. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired off two ballistic missiles, its second major test in less than a week of weapons designed to bolster its nuclear capability, prompting the U.N. Security Council to head into an emergency session hours later. [Extracted from the article]

The short-range ballistic missiles tested by North Korea on Wednesday were fired about five minutes apart from one another from Yangdok county, South Korea's military said. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired off two ballistic missiles -- its second major test in less than a week of weapons designed to bolster its capability to conduct nuclear strikes against Japan and South Korea. [Extracted from the article]

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into waters off the eastern coast of the peninsula Wednesday afternoon. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles, in Pyongyang's second major weapons test in less than a week. [Extracted from the article]

North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile Wednesday, Japan's Coast Guard said in an emailed statement. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired what appeared to be at least one missile on Wednesday, Japan and South Korea said, the country's second major weapons test in less than a week. [Extracted from the article]

UN resolutions bar North Korea from launching ballistic missiles of any kind. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired off two ballistic missiles -- its second major test in less than a week of weapons designed to bolster its capability to conduct nuclear strikes against Japan and South Korea. [Extracted from the article]