The managing partner in the Americas of Softbank VF, a subsidy of over 200 billion yen for a leading US semiconductor contract manufacturer for cars and smartphones, is leaving the company.

Top News
Major semiconductor companies receive over 200 billion yen in subsidies to expand domestic production for cars and smartphones - US government
The Biden administration announced on the 19th that it will provide $1.5 billion (about 230 billion yen) in subsidies to major US semiconductor manufacturers. $GlobalFoundries (GFS.US)$This money will be used to establish new facilities and increase production capacity for semiconductors used in automobiles and smartphones. The aim is to expand domestic semiconductor production and promote a "de-China" supply chain dependency.

Individual investors are starting to return to cryptocurrency - will this lead to a full-scale comeback if Bitcoin continues to rise?
Individual investors are starting to return to cryptocurrency. While not as intense as the bullish market seen three years ago, there has been an increase in individual trading income for cryptocurrency exchange operators. According to a letter addressed to shareholders released on the 15th, Coinbase Global, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the US, saw a 60% increase in net income from individual trading in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year, and an 80% increase compared to the previous quarter.

Nikkei Average wary of foreign investors after reaching its highest level - aware of the right to buy at 0.04 million yen
As the Nikkei Stock Average approaches its all-time high, foreign investors are starting to look beyond that peak. In the options market, short-term foreign investors are increasing their long positions in call options, predicting a scenario of "buying begets buying". However, the current stock market rally is led by only a few sectors, leading to a sense of caution that there may be volatile fluctuations after reaching new highs.

40% of the expected exchange rate is 140 yen, and it is expected to be revised downward due to the depreciation of the yen for the fiscal year ending December 2024.
The average expected exchange rate for domestic listed companies for the fiscal year ending December 2024 was 140 yen against the dollar. It is about 10 yen higher than the real exchange rate of about 150 yen. Many companies expect the current yen depreciation to be revised and lose its positive impact on performance, due to the expectation of narrowing the interest rate spread between Japan and the United States.

60% of listed companies by industry recorded an increase in profits or turned a profit from April to December, with growth in the automobile and food sectors.
For the fiscal year ending December 2023, 23 out of the 36 industries, accounting for over 60%, saw an increase in profits or a turnaround to profitability on a final profit and loss basis. In the manufacturing industry, earnings from the automotive sector significantly increased due to the depreciation of the yen and alleviation of parts shortages, and industries that implemented price increases also performed well. In non-manufacturing industries, with increased mobility, transportation-related and inbound (foreign visitors to Japan)-related sectors showed noticeable growth.

Lydia Jett, the managing partner of SoftBank VF's Americas division, is leaving the company, according to a source familiar with the matter. SoftBank Group declined to comment, and Lydia Jett has not responded to requests for comment.
$SoftBank Group (9984.JP)$Lydia Jett, who served as a managing partner for the Vision Fund's Americas division, is leaving the company, according to a source familiar with the matter. SoftBank Group's representative declined to comment, and Lydia Jett has not responded to requests for comment.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is considering issuing a corrective order to Toyota Industries Corporation regarding the construction machinery engines and the possibility of revoking the certification of the engine model.
$Toyota Industries (6201.JP)$In response to the exhaust gas data falsification issue, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided to issue a corrective order to Toyota Industries Corporation in February, instructing a fundamental improvement in the organization to prevent recurrence. The certification "model designation" necessary for production is being considered for revocation for one model of excavator engine found to not meet the emission performance standards.

The crew of a merchant ship in the Red Sea abandoned the ship and evacuated as Houthi extremists claim that a British ship has sunk.
A merchant ship sailing in the Red Sea was attacked by Yemen's pro-Iranian armed group, the Houthi rebels, and the crew abandoned the ship for evacuation. This is the first evacuation since the Houthi rebels began attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea at the end of last year.

The parent company of Diners Club, a major credit card company, is in negotiations to be acquired by a US bank, with a potential acquisition size exceeding 4 trillion yen.
US Bank $Capital One Financial (COF.US)$It was revealed on the 19th that US bank is considering the acquisition of Discover Financial Services, the parent company of Diners Club. The acquisition size could exceed 28 billion dollars (about 4 trillion 200 billion yen).