Starting with the Nikkei Average depreciation of 278 yen, drastic depreciation of US stocks and progress in yen appreciation are burdensome

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The yen rose to the latter half of the 146 yen range against the dollar, supported by FOMC interest rate reduction bias
The yen exchange rate of the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on the morning of the 1st rose from the evening of the previous day to the latter half of the $1 = 146 yen range. The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) showed an attitude of not rushing to cut interest rates, and the yen reduced the increase after hitting a high price for the first time in about 2 weeks.

The October-December financial results for 3 mega banks are expected to make steady progress towards the highest profit update - Analysts
The 3 domestic megabanks will announce financial results for the 3rd quarter (fiscal year ending 2023/10-12) sequentially from February 1. Consolidated net profit forecast $Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.JP)$(MUFG) is expected to be 2.5 times higher than the same period last year, and it seems that progress was steady while anticipating a record high profit update for the full year or a level close to that.

Hitachi and Sony mutually accept sideline talent in advanced fields such as AI
$Hitachi (6501.JP)$with $Sony Group (6758.JP)$They will mutually accept side jobs for employees from 2024. Young and mid-level employees are dispatched to advanced departments of partner companies. Artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, etc. are targeted. If workers bring back results from side jobs, companies can also lead to improvements in human resource value and technological innovation.

Hitachi, Ltd. - Final profit revised upward for the period of continued expansion, 3Q cumulative increase 52%
$Hitachi (6501.JP)$Continued growth. The company announced on 1/31 that it will revise its consolidated net profit forecast (IFRS) for the full fiscal year 24.3 upward from the previous year of 520 billion yen to 530 billion yen (down 18.4% from the previous fiscal year). The market consensus is 552.3 billion yen.

Lasertech - sales momentum and full-year operating profit revisions fall below market consensus
$Lasertec (6920.JP)$There is a sales trend. The company announced on January 31 that it would raise its consolidated operating profit forecast for the full fiscal year 24.6 to 67 billion yen (up 42.3% from the previous fiscal year) from the previous 64 billion yen. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations were taken into account. Note that the exchange rate, which is a prerequisite for earnings forecasts, has been changed to 135 yen per US dollar (assumption of the previous forecast: 1 US dollar 125 yen).

Fujitsu - Buying Sentiment: Year-round operating profit revised downward 3Q cumulative decrease 72%
$Fujitsu (6702.JP)$It's a buying trend. The company announced on 1/31 that it will revise its consolidated operating profit forecast (IFRS) for the full fiscal year 24.3 downward from the previous fiscal year of 320 billion yen to 250 billion yen (down 25.5% from the previous fiscal year).

JR East - Buyout Announces Upward Revision of Full-Year Operating Profit and Year-End Dividend Increase
$East Japan Railway (9020.JP)$It's a buying trend. On January 31, the company announced that it will revise its consolidated operating profit forecast for the full year of 24.3 fiscal year upward from 270 billion yen to 310 billion yen (2.2 times the previous fiscal year), and the year-end dividend forecast from 55 yen to 70 yen (50 yen at the end of the previous fiscal year). The market consensus is 279.2 billion yen.