By Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s consumer inflation held steady above the central bank’s target in March and an index excluding fuel costs rose at the fastest annual pace in four decades, data showed, indicating broadening price pressure in the world’s third-largest economy. The data may keep alive market expectations that the …

Japan’s broadening inflationary pressures test BOJ’s dovish stance Read More »

By Veronica Dudei Maia Khongwir BENGALURU (Reuters) – South Korea’s economy narrowly escaped a recession in the first quarter of 2023, barely growing after shrinking in the fourth quarter, underscoring the challenge for policymakers trying to shore up growth, a Reuters poll found. Asia’s fourth-largest economy is expected to have expanded by a seasonally-adjusted 0.2% …

South Korea economy likely narrowly avoided recession in Q1: Reuters poll Read More »

By David Dolan TOKYO (Reuters) -Shares of Rakuten Bank Ltd surged by more than a third in their market debut on Friday, after the internet bank raised $625 million in Japan’s largest initial public offering (IPO) in more than four years. Shares were fetching 1,914 yen in Tokyo after spending the first hour of the …

Rakuten Bank surges in debut after raising $625 million in Japan’s biggest IPO in years Read More »