Company stock buybacks started with the Nikkei average rising by 429 yen, a record high of 9.3 trillion yen in 23 years, due in part to rising stock prices

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Company stock buybacks, record high of 9.3 trillion yen in 23, due in part to rising stock prices
It became clear on the 10th that stock buybacks of listed companies in 2023 hit a record high on a monetary basis. According to SMBC Nikko Securities, the total share purchase amount resolved by companies constituting the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) was 9.386 billion yen, which exceeded 9.222.1 billion yen in '22. Investors are fond of improvements in corporate capital efficiency and changes in attitudes towards shareholder returns, which seems to be one cause of rising stock prices.

Financial Services Agency develops councils to promote ESG investment trusts as a pillar of the new NISA
The Financial Services Agency has set up a council where management companies, sales companies, companies, and investors discuss issues and improvement measures for the spread of ESG (environment/social/corporate governance) investment trusts and green bonds (environmental bonds). The idea is to create an environment where it is easy to invest in financial products that are environmentally friendly, etc., and use it as a receptacle for personal money operated by the new small investment tax exemption system (NISA).

Global PC shipments in 2023 fall 13.9% for 2 consecutive years
The US research company IDC announced on the 10th that global PC shipments (preliminary figures) in 2023 were 259.5 million units, down 13.9% from the previous year. It declined for 2 consecutive years, but the rate of decline was smaller than the previous year. As companies introduce new personal computers equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, there is a view that the market will recover in the future.

New government bonds between Japan, the US, the UK, and Europe that exceed 300 trillion yen threaten the market price - don't dabble in long-term bonds
Around the beginning of November last year, the two characters “supply” suddenly disappeared from bond traders' chats. When government bond prices in developed countries rose rapidly day by day and yields plummeted, bringing long-awaited profits to investors, anxiety about growing budget deficits dissipated. But how long will it last? The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Eurozone governments will issue government bonds at an unprecedented rate over the next few weeks. According to estimates by Bloomberg Intelligence, these countries, which have inflated budget deficits that were previously unthinkable, plan to issue new government bonds of 210 trillion dollars (about 304 trillion yen) net to cover the 2024 expenditure plan together with Japan.

MOL makes major domestic wind power maintenance company a subsidiary
$Mitsui O.S.K. Lines(9104.JP)$It was announced on the 10th that it will acquire a majority of the issued shares of Hokutaku, a major domestic wind power generation equipment maintenance company, and make it a subsidiary. Establish a system to provide one-stop services for operation and maintenance, and strengthen the offshore wind power business base, which is positioned as a growth field for non-shipping businesses.

Rakuten Group - sales trend is expected to reverse 70 billion yen of deferred tax assets and record impairment losses in the internet supermarket business
$Rakuten Group(4755.JP)$There is a sales trend. The company announced on the 10th that it will record impairment losses in its consolidated financial results for the full fiscal year ending 23.12. Since the recoverable value from the warehouse-type internet supermarket business is expected to fall below the book value, it is said that approximately 16 billion yen will be recorded as an impairment loss. At the same time, it was announced that a partial cancellation of deferred tax assets will be carried out in the same financial results. It is expected that corporate income tax expenses associated with the revocation of deferred tax assets of approximately 70 billion yen will be recorded.

Fujitsu - 4 days continue to fall due to the biggest misdemeanor in the UK, considering a new law on denunciation and compensation = Kyodo
$Fujitsu(6702.JP)$It continued to fall for 4 days. Kyodo News reported on the 10th that there was the largest misdemeanor case in English history where hundreds of people were prosecuted for fraudulent accounting and embezzlement charges due to defects in the company's accounting system for postal operators, and voices denouncing the company are growing within the government.

Suzuki invests 660 billion yen to increase automobile production in India and new plant in western region
$Suzuki Motor(7269.JP)$It was announced on the 10th that it will invest 382 billion rupees (about 660 billion yen) in India and expand automobile production in western Gujarat. In addition to building a new factory with an annual production capacity of 1 million units, the capacity of existing factories will also be raised by 250,000 units per year.

Chairman Nitori and Nitori also serve as president and Mr. Takeda concentrates on overseas business
$Nitori Holdings(9843.JP)$It was announced on the 10th that Nitori Akio Nitori HD Chairman (79) will take office as president of the operating company NITORI on 2/1. This is the first time in 10 years that Mr. Shinotori became president of NITORI. Mr. Nitori's position at NITORI changes from chairman to chairman and president. President Takeda Masanori (58) becomes the vice president of NITORI HD and concentrates on managing overseas business.