economy

Year end markets often see a bout of profit taking following a one way market and this year should see the same. However, the uncertainty in the UAE could see the Yen strengthen one more time before following the European currencies...

...but for how long will this last before things revert back to the way they were?

Moribund conditions persist

By Edward Hugh and Claus Vistesen

What has happened to Japan’s economy?

Japan’s economy just does not seem to be able to catch a break at the moment. GDP contracted at an annual pace of over 15.2 percent in the first three months of this year, while industrial output fell by over 34.5 percent following a contraction in exports which was nearer to the 40 percent mark.

Pricey, and Japanese stocks, are typically not heard together in the same sentence. However, since last September’s market rout, earnings have deteriorated to the point that the Nikkei 225 is trading at over 175x forward earnings ... proceed with caution.

By Jesper Koll

The re-regulation and nationalization of the US banking system is a far cry from the dark days here following the bubble era.

Well it's official - according to the Bank of Japan, the economy's expansion has halted. Read Now

The popularity of Taro Aso's cabinet has already started sinking and if a new opinion poll speaks the truth, it looks like the LDP will have to inject a bit of hope into the economy, before an election is called. Read Now

By Jesper Koll -- The Koizumi era encouraged real economic growth with passion. But what can corporate Japan expect from its political leaders now? It’s Autumn 2008, and Japan’s Prime Minister faces a simple policy challenge: How to prevent recession in the worlds’ second largest economy? The good news is that Japan still has ample room on all policy fronts to stimulate economic growth and fend off a slump.

Japan's business leaders are shrugging off the severity of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and its aftershocks - so why worry? Read Now