The Vault · 2026-03-27 01:56:50 · Japan Times
Major global asset managers are actively positioning for a stagflationary shock in Japan, a scenario long considered improbable for the world's third-largest economy. With the conflict involving Iran nearing its one-month mark, the sustained upward pressure on oil prices is forcing a fundamental reassessment of Japan's...
The Network · 2026-03-29 06:56:49 · Japan Times
One month into Iran's strategic blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the global oil shock is landing hard on Japanese soil. The immediate surge in crude prices is no longer just a financial headline; it's a direct operational cost hammering a diverse cross-section of domestic businesses. From agricultural producers facing...
The Vault · 2026-04-02 04:26:51 · Japan Times
A key voice from within the Bank of Japan's former leadership is signaling a decisive shift in monetary policy. Toshitaka Sekine, who served as the central bank's chief economist and is now a professor at Hitotsubashi University, assesses a high likelihood of an interest rate hike as soon as April. His forecast is not ...
The Vault · 2026-04-08 06:57:13 · Japan Times
Japan's corporate landscape is under severe strain, with business failures surging to a 12-year peak of 10,505 in fiscal 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive annual increase, a relentless trend signaling deep-rooted pressure within the economy, particularly on its smallest and most vulnerable enterprises. The escala...
The Vault · 2026-04-09 03:56:48 · Japan Times
Japan is targeting a fundamental shift in its long-dormant corporate bond market, aiming to transform it into a dynamic engine for growth capital. The initiative seeks to unlock new funding avenues for companies, directly addressing a critical bottleneck in the nation's economic strategy. This move signals a deliberate...
The Vault · 2026-04-13 04:52:34 · Japan Times
A sustained blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is forcing a brutal reassessment of Japan's corporate landscape, with equity analysts slashing profit forecasts for the nation's most oil-dependent industries. The critical maritime chokepoint's closure has sent oil prices soaring, exposing a stark vulnerability at the heart...