financializer news A weblog highlighting financial topics making news in the international media.

games years: Here are a few creators offering whimsical and elegant games, both new and traditional, according to The Japan Times. Bright and cheery When Jun Sasaki established Oink Games 10 years ago, he had a couple of goals in mind. They can, however, be a little dated at times. One was to design unusual tabletop games; the other was to make them as compact as possible so that they could be played anywhere and easily stored. Almost all are also priced at just 2,420 or 2,750, and have Japanese and English instructions. ; Durian from Oink Games These are mostly fun, quick-play activities from party games to strategy ones featuring visual cards, tokens and the clever use of tiles instead of boards. His current range of more than 30 board and card games are, as promised, colorful, a bit wacky and packaged in boxes just a tad bigger than two stacked decks of playing cards. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

intelligence agency: Yet this trivial episode invites us to think seriously about the role of covert intervention and regime change in U.S. policy, according to The Japan Times. Just as the United States sought to undermine or topple unfriendly regimes during the Cold War, it may look to such methods again in its increasingly heated rivalry with China. One would hope that the Central Intelligence Agency could do better than a farcical scheme that was disowned by the Venezuelan opposition, penetrated by regime security forces and disrupted as soon as it began. Caution will be necessary History tells us that while covert intervention can sometimes be a cost-effective tool of competition, it is fraught with risks and profound moral trade-offs. ; Covert action came of age during the Cold War. Over the succeeding decades, it would seek to destabilize or replace numerous governments that were slipping into the Soviet sphere or softening up their countries for communist influence. In the late 1940s, when the CIA and National Security Council were born, the U.S. began developing a global capability for intervention under the cloak of secrecy. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

survey: About 36 percent said there will be no change in their employment policy for new graduates and 25 percent said they are undecided, according to The Japan Times. Among sectors with plans to reduce hiring are materials and electronics makers, transport companies and retailers. According to the Kyodo News survey of 111 companies, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp., 29 firms, or 26 percent, said they are expected to cut back on hiring fresh graduates starting from April 2021, up from 16 percent in last year's hiring survey. ; Only 10 firms, or 9 percent, said they are planning to increase hiring, down from 21 percent in the previous survey. Those companies as well as those that are undecided said the impact on earnings from the virus is uncertain and they need more time to see how the pandemic will affect the economy. But the survey, conducted from early April to early May, indicates the job market could take a turn for the worse, given that nonessential businesses were pressured to close and people were asked to stay home by the central and prefectural governments. RELATED STORIESJapan economy watcher index sank to record low in April as virus throttled economy Japanese firms in unprecedented crisis due to coronavirus Coronavirus might cost Japan over 1 million jobs, economists say Japan industry groups offer guidance on how to coexist with COVID-19Japan slips into recession, but worst is yet to come For graduating students, job conditions have been favorable in recent years because of a labor shortage caused by the nation's rapidly graying society. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

giroir: Sen, according to CNN. Lamar Alexander held a hearing where President Donald Trump's testing czar Brett Giroir acknowledged his efforts remain a work in progress. Angus King spent weeks seeking a national coronavirus testing plan. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

face masks: Face masks delivered from the convenience store chain's headquarters are worn by employees, who are also asked to take their own temperature every day before work, according to The Japan Times. Anything above 37.5 degrees Celsius and they stay home. ; These anti-contamination measures have been introduced at many of 7-Eleven's 20,938 outlets nationwide, but the more interesting changes are coming from consumers. At a 7-Eleven in the city's Ijuin neighborhood, transparent plastic sheets hang between cashiers and customers to block any pathogen-laced droplets produced by coughing and sneezing. Bananas and bottled water have been flying off shelves, for example, while previously popular onigiri rice balls and ready-to-eat sandwiches sit largely untouched. However, those that do visit the store typically spend more money. Despite being relatively unaffected by the global pandemic, the number of customers at the 7-Eleven in Ijuin has dropped off as official stay-at-home requests are heeded. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

japan: New York was relatively slow to address the pandemic and has since seen more than 15,000 people die from the infection, according to The Japan Times. Although the article is careful to point out the demographic and cultural differences at play, the general theme is that Seattle's success in bringing the virus under control was because scientists were in charge of the message from the start, while politicians were directing traffic in New York. Washington was the first state in the United States to identify a resident who had contracted the virus, and Seattle, its biggest city, quickly acted to contain a serious outbreak. Something similar could be said about the difference in response between South Korea and Japan. Japan's methods have been more improvisational. South Korea managed to suppress its own outbreak early on thanks to a concerted effort to test and trace based on expert guidelines. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

rice cultivation: The greatest concern of associate professor Toshiaki Iida of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Agriculture is the possible impact on the nation's rice crop, according to The Japan Times. A source in the department of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry responsible for control of water resources tells the magazine that water levels at dams and reservoirs are normal for this time of year. A source in the Meteorological Agency is quoted as saying that rainfall between now and August is predicted to match the seasonal average, which means it might not be sufficient to make up for the lack of snow. ; About two thirds of the country's water resources go to farming some 94 percent of which is used for rice cultivation. However, the volume of use for agriculture increases during spring, so we'll be monitoring the situation very carefully, he said. The list also includes several Japanese entertainers who are popular in South Korea, including model and actor Ryohei Otani and actress Saki Fukuda, who for the past half decade has performed in South Korean dramas. Can entertainment help relieve the strained relations between Japan and South Korea However grudgingly, Shukan Bunshun May 7-14 was clearly so impressed by Parasite winning best picture at this year's Academy Awards that it dedicated a dozen glossy pages at the front and back of the issue to South Korea's top actors, vocalists, dancers and models. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

fear decline: In the past few weeks, 17 infections were confirmed at a post office call center in Hokkaido and 11 at a Kyoto mail-order business. ; Japan Inc. has been reluctant to embrace telecommuting, with firms citing concerns about data security, according to The Japan Times. Companies also fear a decline in worker productivity and customer service. Call centers have exposed one of the fault lines in Japan's fight against the pandemic, as it takes a less forceful approach than many countries. Dozens of us are still working in a crowded office, a worker at KDDI Evolva, KDDI's call center business, said. Until recently, the KDDI Evolva office in Tokyo was packed at peak hours with nearly 80 operators sitting less than a meter apart without partitions, said the worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity. We could be hit with mass infection any time. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

heart-related procedure: Members of South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee said after a meeting with the National Intelligence Service NIS that the reports were groundless, according to The Japan Times. The NIS assesses that at least he did not get any heart-related procedure or surgery, committee member Kim Byung-kee told reporters. Kim attended the completion of a fertilizer plant, North Korea's official media said Saturday, the first report of his appearing in public since April 11. ; His absence fueled a flurry of speculation about his health and whereabouts, with a South Korean news outlet reporting Kim was recovering from a cardiovascular procedure while CNN said U.S. officials were monitoring intelligence he was in grave danger after surgery. He was normally performing his duties when he was out of the public eye. But the lawmaker said Kim Jong Un only made 17 public appearances so far this year, compared with an average of 50 from previous years, which the NIS ascribed to a possible coronavirus outbreak in North Korea. RELATED STORIESSouth Korean findings suggest 'reinfected' virus cases are false positives At least there's no heart-related health problem. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

travel: An IATA survey found 60 percent of respondents anticipate a return to air travel within one to two months of the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic while 40 percent could wait six months or more, according to The Japan Times. Another 69 percent could delay a return to air travel until their personal financial situation stabilizes. Passenger confidence will suffer a double whammy even after the pandemic is contained, hit by personal economic concerns in the face of a looming recession on top of lingering concerns about the safety of travel, Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said in a recent release. ; Governments and industry must be quick and coordinated with confidence-boosting measures, he said. RELATED STORIESHaneda begins temperature checks for domestic flights to combat virus American, Delta and United to require facial coverings on U.S. flights Battered by coronavirus pandemic, global tourism industry faces long road to recovery Japan's travel security info service to cover Line users The poll was conducted from April 6 to 9 on people who traveled by air in the last nine months in Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, India, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the United States. People still want to travel. An immediate rebound from the catastrophic fall in passenger demand appears unlikely, the IATA chief said. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

catastrophe years: Activists say the chemicals streaming from factories have contributed to a toxic brew that has killed and sickened many along its banks, according to The Independent. The environment minister recently called it an environmental hell . This town is a slow-motion Chernobyl, said Enrique Enciso, whose house in El Salto is perched just a few blocks from the river, and whose family has fought for more than a decade to clean it up. The river smells of industrial waste and sewage a catastrophe years in the making, with far-ranging consequences. THIS IS TEMP CODE TO RESOLVE TEADS ISSUES ON SAFARAI - ISSUE-387 - START THIS WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE FOOTER EJS FILE THIS IS TEMP CODE TO RESOLVE TEADS ISSUES ON SAFARAI - ISSUE-387 - END Download the new Indpendent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines Download now The river is a powerful example of Mexico's failure to protect its environment A New York Times analysis of 15 years of efforts to clean up the Santiago found that attempts floundered in the face of legal loopholes, deficient funding and a lack of political will. Created with Sketch. Now, Mexico has signed an expansive trade deal with the United States and Canada in which it made an explicit promise to conserve its environment a provision that was central to winning approval from Democrats in the US Congress. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

chung kyung-shim: Cho faces a dozen charges, including bribery, document fraud, manipulation of evidence and public service ethics law violations, it added, according to The Japan Times. Together with his wife he is being prosecuted for falsifying documents regarding family investments and efforts to gain university admissions. The accusations are a setback for President Moon Jae-in after the liberal leader named Cho, a former top aide, to the Cabinet post to lead reform of the prosecutor's office, which critics saw as being susceptible to political pressure. ; The Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office indicted Cho and his wife, Chung Kyung-shim, on Tuesday morning over family investment and using their position to gain admissions for his children, it said in a statement. Cho will remain free as he stands trial. Cho's lawyer, Kim Chil-joon, did not immediately respond to telephone calls or a text message to seek comment. Chung, who is also a university professor, was arrested in October on the same charges. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

defense capability: Trump approved the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which will increase the U.S. defense spending by about 20 billion dollars, or about 2.8 percent, on Friday night at a signing ceremony held at the Joint Base Andrews near Washington, according to Global Times China. Xinhua/Liu Jie After signing the National Defense Authorization Act NDAA for Fiscal Year 2020 on December 20, US President Donald Trump announced the establishment of the US Space Force, the sixth military branch of the US armed forces. Trump signed into law a 738-billion-U.S.-dollar defense bill which includes controversial provisions calling for sanctions against Russia and Turkey. Though the new arm of the military will not substantially augment US defense capability, it will definitely prove useful if the country's might is challenged in space. When the US believes that some countries might pose a potential threat to it in a certain field, it tends to seek a dominant position before the challenge can actually raise its head. Preparing in advance is what the US always does, since the US is used to being in the lead. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

end i: Download the new Indpendent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines Download now THIS IS TEMP CODE TO RESOLVE TEADS ISSUES ON SAFARAI - ISSUE-387 - START THIS WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE FOOTER EJS FILE THIS IS TEMP CODE TO RESOLVE TEADS ISSUES ON SAFARAI - ISSUE-387 - END I expect a fundamental reconceptualisation of what Facebook's role is in the world, he told CNN. When you have an entity that large with that much potential impact, and not fundamentally doing good things to improve the state of the world, well, then I think everyone is going to have it in its crosshairs, according to The Independent. Created with Sketch. Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff said the tech giant urgently needed to be regulated and described it as the new cigarettes for our society . Mr Benioff, who also owns Time magazine, added to mounting criticism aimed at Facebook in recent years, which ranges from the negative impacts of social media on its users to the way it allows misinformation to spread online on an unprecedented scale. Facebook birthday 15 defining moments for the social network Show all 15 Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

films: The Chinese mainland's box office hit an all-time high with a total of 63.7 billion yuan around 9.1 billion US dollars as of Sunday, according to Global Times China. It remains a difficult task, however, for Chinese films to appeal to North American moviegoers and achieve similar success beyond national borders. File photo MORE CHINESE FILMS RELEASED IN NORTH AMERICA The year of 2019 is another milestone for China's film industry as eight of the year's top 10 highest grossing films in the Chinese mainland's box office charts are Chinese films. Nonetheless, there is reason to be hopeful. CMC Pictures has successfully released 11 Chinese films this year with a North American cume of 10.66 million dollars as of Saturday, including China's first homemade sci-fi blockbuster The Wandering Earth, which is the highest grossing Chinese film in North America in the last five years with a total of 5.87 million dollars. Two major Chinese-language film distributors in North America have fared much better in 2019 than last year. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

keyup listener: AMRX Insiders Spending On Buying Shares if window.performance window.performance.mark && && Wall StSimply Wall St, according to The Independent. December 31, 2019if window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. Search first keyup' ; ; listener ; ;No matching results for ''Tip Try a valid symbol or a specific company name for relevant results Cancel Sign in Mailif window.performance window.performance.mark && && Finance Videos News Techif window.performance window.performance.mark && && U.S. Markets open in 4 hrs 3 minsS&P window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && window.performance window.performance.mark && && Much Are Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. AMRX . What Is Insider Selling It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

commodities: With little choice, he grudgingly agreed to sell at 70 Zimbabwean dollars US 5 on the local interbank rate . The father of five said his family has been forced to cut down on meals as the price of basic commodities soars thanks to hyperinflation, according to CNN. It has been a tough year. Mautsa's only customer offered to buy a wheelbarrow of sand -- a key ingredient in household construction works -- at half the asking price. You simply cannot make enough to make ends meet, Mautsa told CNN. On a good day, I make 200 Zimbabwean dollars, but lately business has been going down because the traders are too many. Read More Risk of starvation As well as hyperinflation, Zimbabwe has been hit by severe drought in parts of the country. Last year was better, I could even save money for my children's school fees, but this year inflation has decimated my income. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

tesla shares: Tesla took the same approach when it started production of the sedan in California in July 2017, delivering its first Model 3s to staff. ; After reaching that milestone more than two years ago, Tesla went through months of what Musk called production hell, according to The Japan Times. After consistently falling well short of its chief executive officer's ambitious targets, the firm burned through billions of dollars and came within weeks of running out of money. The electric carmaker handed over the first 15 Model 3 sedans assembled at its new multibillion-dollar plant near Shanghai its first outside the U.S. to employees at the facility on Monday. Investors have been betting this time will be different, with Tesla shares on a tear since the company reported a surprise quarterly profit in late October. The China plant is already assembling more than 1,000 cars a week, and aims to double that rate over the next year, according to Song Gang, the manufacturing director at the facility. The carmaker is on much steadier footing, having worked out the kinks that limited initial production of the Model 3 and managing to far outpace sales of many other automakers' electric vehicles. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

p spx: But after the New Year's Eve revelry what sort of 2020 will investors wake up to In our call of the day, Wells Fargo Investment Institute strategist head of global asset allocation strategy Tracie McMillion said it was unlikely 2020 would bring such outsize returns, according to Market Watch. Investors should consider taking gains in the New Year, she said, and then put the cash back to work when political or other stresses push markets lower. The Nasdaq Composite COMP, 0.30% has gained 35% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 SPX, 0.29% is on track for its biggest yearly gain since 2013, gaining nearly 29% and the Dow DJIA, 0.27% has climbed 22%. The trio all edged lower in early trading on Tuesday. If the pattern of resilient markets continues in 2020 as we expect, investors should find opportunities to take profits when markets exceed our price or yield targets ranges. By rebalancing in this way, cash can become a tactical tool that may enhance returns if market swings become more pronounced, as we expect, she added. There also may be chances to put cash back to work when political or other stresses push markets below our target levels, McMillion, head of global asset allocation strategy, said in a note. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

party leaders: There's nothing ambiguous in Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's warning that the country may encounter larger downward pressure and a more complex situation, so governments at all levels will face more difficult tasks and bigger responsibilities. ; Chinese President Xi Jinping himself identifies three tough battles ahead targeted poverty reduction, effective control of financial risks, and general improvement in the environment, according to The Japan Times. There is an undisguised sense of urgency in his message We need to be prepared with contingency plans. The surest sign is the fact that Chinese Communist Party leaders spare no efforts in cautioning the public about challenges ahead and pliant Chinese media outlets have been quick to spread the word buckle up for turbulence. Jack Ma, Alibaba's founder, weighs in to confirm that the hardship of 2019 is probably just the start of difficulties. China's cumulative debt now tops 300 percent of GDP and International Monetary Fund experts warned as early as January 2018 of the dangerous trajectory of the country's credit growth. Tough battles ahead The financial de-risking battle Xi referred to is necessitated by the toxic degree of indebtedness of the economy. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

tides shift: With all that as a backdrop, what better time to ask ETF industry pros what they're thinking about for the coming year Two respondents think that after a strong run, investors might do better to look outside the U.S. for returns, according to Market Watch. One, perhaps not surprisingly, thinks his own fund is best positioned to grab investor interest in the value trade, now that there seems to be more runway in the business cycle. The SEC approved a set of new guidelines that will change the way funds get launched, investors continued to use ETFs as tools to express big ideas or larger themes, and to make U-turns as the tides shift, and Market Watch became one of the first publications to point out the uncomfortable elephant in the room that the ETF industry has a problem with intellectual property theft. And another is wondering whether that will prompt investors to become less cautious. Studying abroad U.S. stocks have gained handsomely in 2019, and while many strategists think the current bull market has more room to run, others suggest investors will get more bang for their buck overseas. Their insights are below. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

zhu fenglian: Only acts instructed, commissioned, and sponsored by Beijing that meddle in Taiwanese society would be ruled as unlawful, according to Global Times China. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, said in a statement on Tuesday that the law was green terror - the color of the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party DPP - and would hurt the interests of the Taiwan people. Taiwan-based news portal website taiwannews.tw reported that Tsai said Wednesday the legislation will not infringe upon the freedoms and rights of the people, nor would it affect normal exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. People from all walks of life within the island strongly condemned and opposed the DPP actions, said Zhu. Zheng Bo-yu, 31, from Taiwan, who works in Beijing, told the Global Times that he won't be fooled by Tsai, as the authorities and the courts in Taiwan were all controlled by the DPP, and they could just use this law to prosecute anyone that has connections with the mainland. The controversial bill reportedly bans people on the island from receiving instructions, requests, financial aid or political donations from infiltrating sources. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

fool: Making bold predictions can be a risky move, leaving one looking more fool than oracle especially when the crystal ball gazing is done from several decades away, according to Nine News Australia. We've put together seven predictions for life in 2020, from as far back as the 1960s and as recent as 2017. To improve your experience update it hereLIVE UPDATESLatest on Australia's bushfire crisis News World How futurists from the past predicted life in 2020By 9News Staff6 47am Jan 1, academics and technologists have always wondered what life will be like in the years ahead. Matt Damon sits on the planet Mars in the movie 'The Martian'. 20th Century Fox Man on Mars In 1997 futurists Peter Schwartz and Peter Leyden wrote a report detailing how man would set foot on Mars in the year 2020. The four astronauts touch down and beam their images back to the 11 billion people sharing in the moment. It's an extraordinary event by any measure, coming a half century after people first set foot on the Moon, they wrote. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

fuel producer: Here is a review of the year in business, according to The Guardian. Floats Saudi Aramco secured its position as the most valuable listed company in history after investor appetite for the world's biggest fossil fuel producer pushed its market value to just under 1.9tn 1.4tn after its long-awaited listing. Bankers and tycoons tried to get on with things by attempting huge flotations, large mergers and sizeable refinancings with mixed results. Shares in the Saudi state-backed oil company defied Aramco's critics by climbing nearly 11% above the 1.7tn valuation set before its market debut on Riyadh's stock exchange. The word's most profitable company was supposed to be worth 2tn when it listed the number coveted by Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman while a secondary goal was to insert Aramco shares into the portfolios of international investors. However, despite those numbers, it was still difficult to class the float as an unmitigated success. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

future: Kim also reportedly said his country planned to introduce a new strategic weapon in the near future. 2019 the year US foreign policy fell apart Read more In response, Trump said he had a good relationship with Kim and believed the North Korean leader would keep his word to refrain from nuclear and long-range missile tests, according to The Guardian. He did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearisation. ... That was done in Singapore, and I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The North Korean leader told a four-day meeting of party officials in Pyongyang that the test ban, which Kim agreed to in talks with the US president, was no longer needed, state media said on Wednesday. Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said he hoped North Korea would choose peace over war. We're hopeful that ... chairman Kim will make the right decision he'll choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war. So, seeing that reporting publicly, it remains the case that we hope that chairman Kim will take a different course, Pompeo told Fox News in an interview. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.

deal: I will be signing our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15, he said in the tweet, according to The Guardian. Donald J. Trump real Donald Trump I will be signing our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15. In a tweet on Tuesday, the US president said high-level representatives of China would attend an official ceremony at the White House, adding he would also be travelling to Beijing for talks on the second phase of the deal. The ceremony will take place at the White House. At a later date I will be going to Beijing where talks will begin on Phase Two!December 31, 2019 Under the deal, which was announced on 13 December, US plans for new tariffs on 160bn 121bn of Chinese imports of items such as smartphones and toys will be suspended. High level representatives of China will be present. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.