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Economy

Japan seeks new ways to win top posts at international organizations

Alternative career track for civil servants would help develop policy specialists Japan is the third biggest backer of the United Nations, but Japanese nationals account for a relatively small share of the organization's employees. (Photo by Yuki Nakao) TOKYO -- Policymakers in Japan are considering measures to boost the number of Japanese nationals working at the United Nations and other international organizations, an initiative in part aimed at creating a counterweight to China's growing influence.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Japan to share advance defense procurement plans with contractors

Change will allow for easier planning and help boost production Ground Self-Defense Force tanks unleash rounds during the Fuji Firepower Exercise in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture on June 7. TOKYO -- Japan's Defense Ministry will start notifying contractors in advance of the volume of equipment it plans to procure to help them plan production over the medium to long term, Nikkei has learned.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Tokyo to double bike lane network to 900 km by 2030

City receives safety complaints after new fines force riders off sidewalks With Tokyo's cyclists having no choice but to ride on the roads, some are calling for more safety measures. (Photo by Kosuke Shinohara) TOKYO -- Japan's capital is working to double the network of bike lanes and related infrastructure to 900 kilometers by 2030, aiming to create a safe environment for cyclists after the introduction of fines in April forced them off sidewalks and onto busy streets.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Japan to weigh changes to proprietary trading cap as volume soars

AI boom fuels activity on alternatives to Tokyo Stock Exchange Japan's Financial Services Agency has encouraged the growth of proprietary trading systems to ease the concentration of trading at the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Photo by Yuji Murakami) TOKYO -- Japanese financial authorities will explore changing a rule that separates proprietary trading systems from full-fledged securities exchanges, Nikkei has learned, as the popularity of these alternative platforms grows.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Nuclear arms makers draw 30% more financing as geopolitical risks rise

Japan's top 3 banking groups pledge not to fund them even as 301 financial institutions do Growing geopolitical tensions are leading governments and investors to rethink their positions on nuclear arms. (Source photos by Reuters and Nikkei) OSAKA -- Defense contractors involved in producing nuclear weapons saw a 30% increase in loans and investments from financial institutions, according to a report released this year, signaling dwindling momentum in the global campaign to divest from such companies.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Tokyo office rents hit fresh 3-decade high as market tightens

Some landlords sit on completed new properties, waiting for prices to keep rising Mitsubishi Estate's Otemachi Gate Building was nearly full about a year before completion, a project head said. (Photo by Kazuho Fujiwara) TOKYO -- Average asking rents for office space in central Tokyo reached a new 31-year high in July as sustained strong demand from companies relocating and expanding their offices gave property owners the upper hand.

August 7, 2026

Economy

DeepSeek, state oil giant back humanoid robot maker Unitree’s $900m IPO

Developer's Shanghai listing to gauge confidence in emerging sector A child interacts with a Unitree quadruped robot at the company's store in Beijing on Aug. 1. © Reuters SHANGHAI -- Chinese artificial intelligence developer DeepSeek and the country's state oil giant are among the big-name companies investing in humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics' 6.1 billion yuan ($900 million) initial public offering in Shanghai.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Philippine GDP growth slows further to 2.3% in Q2 as inflation bites

High fuel prices and corruption scandal continue to weigh on economy People visit Legazpi Sunday Market in Makati in Manila on Feb. 22: Rising living costs are a drag on consumer spending, on which the Philippine economy relies heavily. © Getty Images MANILA -- The Philippine economy expanded 2.3% in the second quarter from a year earlier, as the country continues to grapple with an energy shock triggered by the Iran war and lower public spending brought on by a corruption scandal.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Zepto IPO setback highlights fault lines in India’s quick commerce sector

Profitability concerns and intensive competition stunt investor enthusiasm Zepto's losses soared 25% year on year to 59 billion rupees ($620 million) in the fiscal year ending March. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) BENGALURU -- When India's commerce minister publicly rued the dearth of cutting-edge innovation by homegrown startups at an event last year, chiding them for choosing to make ice cream over semiconductors, a co-founder of quick commerce company Zepto hit back.

August 7, 2026

Economy

4 US tech giants amass $1.46tn in physical assets, rivaling oil majors

Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Meta abandon asset-light model amid AI build-out Amazon's PP&E assets doubled from three years earlier to $538.7 billion, the largest company in the world by that measure. © Reuters LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The combined value of property, plants and equipment held by four U.S. tech giants has jumped 140% over the past three years to $1.46 trillion, as artificial intelligence investments turn the former asset-light software businesses into infrastructure giants whose scale now rivals global energy majors.

August 7, 2026

Economy

Australian unions to escalate strikes at BHP iron ore export hub

Workers seeking pay increases and clear path toward career progression Australian miner BHP's management said it has been "frustrated" with union negotiations concerning wages and working conditions. © Reuters SYDNEY -- Workers at the world's largest iron ore bulk export hub are set to carry out a 48-hour strike this weekend, seeking better compensation that reflects their strenuous working environment featuring long shifts, sweltering heat and time away from family.

August 7, 2026

Economy

US imposes 15% tariff on polysilicon in pushback against China

Chinese companies hold 96% of global production of key material for chips, solar panels The solar industry is the main consumer of polysilicon, while semiconductor chips accounted for 2.4% of annual consumption in 2025, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. © Reuters NEW YORK -- The Trump administration announced on Thursday it will impose a 15% tariff rate and a minimum price on imports of products made from polysilicon, the critical raw material used in solar panels and semiconductor chips.

August 7, 2026