Retail Huge store in Guangzhou part of effort to set itself apart from the competition Mixue opened this large store, with a second floor dedicated to Snow King merchandise, in Guangzhou in December. (Photo by Shizuka Tanabe) GUANGZHOU — Chinese beverage chain Mixue is building a merchandise business around its snowman mascot as it tries to stand out […]

Business deals Local authorities approve Japanese insurer’s efforts to pursue merger Tokio Marine collaborated previously with RHB Bank on life insurance sales. (Photo by Kosuke Imamura) TOKYO — Japanese insurance group Tokio Marine Holdings has received approval from Malaysia’s central bank to begin negotiations for acquiring RHB Insurance, a non-life insurance company under local financial major RHB […]

Economy Key property tax changes could assist new home buyers Parliament House in Canberra. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says, “We’re delivering a fairer tax system for workers, first home buyers and future generations.” (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) CANBERRA — Australia will allocate additional funds to boosting its fuel and fertilizer supplies as part of a package worth 14.8 […]

Companies Fresh allegations follow acounting irregularities at the world’s largest motor maker Compliance issues at Kyoto-based motor maker Nidec include unauthorized design changes and falsification of inspection data (Photo by Kosaku Mimura). TOKYO/KYOTO, Japan — Japan’s Nidec is suspected of having engaged in quality tampering involving more than 1,000 cases, extending a series of compliance issues […]

Iran was Idemitsu Kosan also seeks to secure oil supply from sources outside the Middle East Idemitsu Kosan is one of the few companies that has been able to slip a vessel through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. attacked Iran. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yuki Nakao and Idemitsu Tanker website) TOKYO — Idemitsu Kosan, one […]

Markets US Treasury chief touches on JGB yields, BOJ policy; bilateral chat follows yen intervention Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, right, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pose for photos at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on May 12. (Photo by Ken Suzuki) TOKYO — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that both Washington and Tokyo […]

Business deals Bain and LY have also submitted a joint offer for Kakaku.com Sweden’s EQT is set to acquire the Japanese operator of the Tabelog restaurant review and booking site. (Source photos by screenshot from Tabelog’s website and Ryuta Minamihata) Nikkei staff writers May 12, 2026 16:03 JST Updated on May 12, 2026 18:27 JST TOKYO […]

Trump and Xi need to master a new art of the deal

Companies Defense contractor touts frigate sales abroad as contributing to regional security Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ military hardware includes warships like the destroyer “Yoshii”, launched here at its Nagasaki Shipyard in Japan last December. (Photo by Taro Fujii) TOKYO — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries expects full-year net profit to surge as it benefits from the Japanese government’s […]

Markets Higher energy prices stir inflation fears; stock markets choppy 10-year Japanese government bond yields jumped to 2.545% on May 12, a level not seen since June 1997. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama) JADA NAGUMO May 12, 2026 14:28 JST Updated on May 12, 2026 16:22 JST TOKYO — Inflation worries stemming from the ongoing conflict in […]