After the Nikkei average settled, the decline widened, with leading stocks selling off and Fastly dropping by about 7%. Caution is also being taken for tonight's employment statistics.

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US Foreign Exchange Market Summary: Returns to the 158.10 yen range supported by Federal Reserve officials' remarks.
On the 9th, the dollar-yen exchange rate on the New York foreign exchange market closed at around 158.14 yen per dollar, about 20 sen lower than the previous day, with the dollar falling and the yen rising. The Euro was trading around 162.87 yen per Euro, about 50 sen weaker, with the Euro weakening and the yen strengthening. Despite moments of softening to 157.58 yen, the dollar was supported by cautious comments from several Federal Reserve officials on further rate cuts amid a pause in the rise of US long-term interest rates.
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Bowman, Kansas City, Boston Federal Reserve officials demonstrate a cautious stance on rate cuts, pointing out risks of rising inflation.
[Today's Outlook] Waiting for employment statistics, the trend is expected to be upward.

Seven & I - Sell indication 3Q cumulative final profit decreased by 65% due to the recording of structural reform costs.
$Seven & i Holdings (3382.JP)$Is being sold. The company announced on the 9th that the consolidated net profit for the 25.2 period 3Q cumulative (March-November) was 63.6 billion yen (a decrease of 65.1% compared to the same period last year). The market consensus was 145 billion yen. The domestic convenience store business experienced a decrease in revenue from existing stores, leading to a decrease in profit. The overseas convenience store business saw a significant decline in profit amid a growing trend of saving due to inflation.

Fast Retailing - Sell indication 1Q final profit increased by 22% but material exhausted.
$Fast Retailing (9983.JP)$Is being sold. The company announced on the 9th that the consolidated net profit (IFRS) for the 25.8 period 1Q (September-November) was 132 billion yen (an increase of 22.4% compared to the same period last year). The market consensus was 108.5 billion yen. The domestic Uniqlo business performed well in sales, and the expansion of the Uniqlo business in Southeast Asia, India, Australia, North America, and Europe proceeded smoothly. Exchange gains due to foreign currency-denominated assets also contributed. However, the stock price is dominated by selling on news exhaustion.

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Fast Retailing - Sell indication December domestic Uniqlo same-store sales increased by 15%, with strong performance in cold-weather clothing.

Chugai Pharmaceutical - Sharp decline, with the highest number of flu patients - Supply adjustments for some therapeutic drugs by pharmaceutical companies, according to Nikkei.
$Chugai Pharmaceutical (4519.JP)$ Is experiencing a significant decline. The morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun dated the 10th reported that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on the 9th that the number of influenza patients reported from approximately 5,000 designated medical institutions nationwide for the week of December 23-29, 2024, was 3.17 million 7812 people. This was reported as the highest number since the current statistics began in 1999.

Three stocks to target for a leap in biotech stocks this year.
One of the prominent themes in the Japanese stock market this year is biotech. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare positions the establishment of a pharmaceutical ecosystem as a key item in next year's budget. Also, a general incorporated association is expected to be established soon to strengthen the country's pharmaceutical capabilities, led by former Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Keizo Takami, a member of the House of Councillors. It seems that the leading role of the emerging markets in the past is regaining its shine. With already listed ventures like the iPS cell venture Heartsied (=Heartseed, 219A) gaining momentum, we look for stocks to follow.

【Column】Risk of preventing United States Steel acquisition, affecting US companies' investment in Japan.
The economic atmosphere of the 1980s has returned. Japanese stocks hit an all-time high in 2024. Recently, the USA blocked the acquisition of a symbolic presence in the American industry by a Japanese company citing national security reasons. The Biden administration's decision to block the acquisition is not only a mistaken judgment. It has caused turmoil in the Japanese government and also risks worsening relations with close Asian allies of the USA. $Nippon Steel (5401.JP)$by $United States Steel (X.US)$President Biden's