Japan

Japan closely cooperates with US in investigating attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman

TOKYO, June 14. /TASS/: The Japanese authorities are closely cooperating with the United States in investigating the Thursday attacks on the two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference on Friday.

"We are exchanging information in close cooperation with the US," Suga said. "The government is in the process of collecting information about the incident. I want to abstain at this moment from any statements about the consequences and those responsible for the attacks," he added.

Stocks slip as protests shake Hong Kong, trade woes linger

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares retreated Wednesday and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell sharply as thousands continued protests against proposed legislation that many city residents fear could further erode the territory’s legal autonomy.

In midday trading in Europe, Germany’s DAX lost 0.4% to 12,104 and the CAC 40 in France dropped 0.6% to 5,377. Britain’s FTSE 100 also skidded 0.6% to 7,356. U.S. shares were headed for a weak open as the future contract for the Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.2% to 26,017 while that for the S&P 500 also declined 0.2% to 2,882.

Japan PM on Tehran mission to ease Iran-US tensions

12 June 2019; AFP: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected in Tehran on Wednesday for a rare diplomatic mission, hoping to ease tensions between the Islamic republic and Tokyo's key ally Washington.

The first Japanese prime minister to visit Iran in 41 years, Abe is expected to arrive in Tehran at around 1120 GMT and go straight into talks with President Hassan Rouhani.

Asian stocks mostly lower after retreat on Wall Street

TOKYO (AP) — Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Wednesday and Hong Kong’s Seng index tumbled 1.7% as thousands continued protests against proposed legislation that many city residents fear could further erode the territory’s legal autonomy.

Renewed jitters over the trade war between the U.S. and China were weighing on sentiment, pulling shares slightly lower on Wall Street, where benchmarks fell for the first time in six days.

Asian shares rise as Trump plans to meet Chinese leader

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Tuesday as investor jitters over trade eased after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended plans to impose tariffs on Mexican imports and said he expects to meet with the Chinese leader.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% in morning trading to 21,208.09. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 1.3% to 6,528.30. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.3% to 2,105.37. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng stood at 27,820.63, up nearly 0.9%, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 1.9% at 2,905.44.

G-20 finance officials pledge to protect global growth

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 major economies wrapped up a meeting in Japan on Sunday with a pledge to use all the policies they can to protect global growth from disruptions due to trade and other tensions.

The G-20 finance leaders said in a joint communique that risks from trade and geopolitical tensions were “intensifying.” They did not refer directly to the tariffs war between the United States and China, though leaders participating in the meetings indicated it was the No. 1 concern.

G20 finance leaders agree trade tensions have 'intensified'

9 June 2019; DW: Finance leaders from the Group of 20 (G20) ended a two-day meeting in the western Japanese city of Fukuoka on Sunday.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said trade tension was the "major" headwind facing the global economy, telling Japan's Nikkei daily it was a "significant risk on the horizon."

Mnuchin says talks with PBOC’s Yi ‘constructive’

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — The Latest on a meeting of financial leaders of the Group of 20 major economies (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he held a constructive meeting with the head of China’s central bank and that their discussion on trade issues was “candid.”

Mnuchin made the comment in a Twitter post Sunday showing him shaking hands with Yi Gang, governor of the People’s Bank of China.

The two met on the sidelines of the G-20 finance meeting in Japan.

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