Nikkei average started with 123 yen depreciation, exports increased for 5 consecutive months in April, due to recovery in automobile production - trade balance deficit of 462.5 billion yen

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Exports increased for 5 consecutive months in April due to recovery in automobile production - trade balance deficit of 462.5 billion yen
Japan's exports increased for five consecutive months in April compared to the previous year. Exports of transportation equipment picked up in response to a recovery in automobile production, and the depreciation of the yen was also a driving factor. According to April trade statistics (preliminary report) announced by the Ministry of Finance on the 22nd, exports increased 8.3% from the same month last year. It fell short of market expectations (11.0% increase). Decreased by 3.2% on a volume basis. The average value of the dollar and yen was 1 dollar = 151.66 yen, which depreciated 14.7% from the previous year.

The yen is in the first half of the 156 yen range against the dollar, and the dollar has an advantage in overseas time due to falling US interest rates
The yen exchange rate of the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on the morning of the 22nd was 1 dollar = the first half of the 156 yen range, almost unchanged from the evening of the previous day. Overseas time, the decline in interest rates in the same country, which was affected by a slowdown in Canadian inflation, spread to US interest rates, and there was a situation where dollar sales and yen purchases progressed until the latter half of the 155 yen range at one point.

Why did the Norinchukin Bank increase its capital? Unique management structure directly hit by high interest rates
The Norinchukin Bank will hold a press conference on financial results for the fiscal year ending 2024/3 on the 22nd. There is a possibility that they are discussing capital increases on the scale of 1.2 trillion yen with investors such as JA (agricultural cooperatives). The final profit and loss for the fiscal year ending 25/3 is likely to result in a deficit exceeding 500 billion yen due to loss processing of securities held by US bonds, etc.

Nidec Turns from Electric Car to AI Mr. Nagamori Shigenobu “Also Acquired a 1 Trillion Yen Company” Kensuke Kakuta - Nihon Keizai Shimbun
$Nidec (6594.JP)$The stock price is showing signs of recovery. It was sluggish due to poor parts for electric vehicles (EVs), but the current stock price is around 7300 yen and has risen more than 30% from the year-to-date low (5400 yen) set in March. Businesses other than those for EVs, such as motors for industrial equipment, support business results, and new businesses related to AI (artificial intelligence) semiconductors are also gathering expectations.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - CO2 capture equipment for demonstration tests begins operation at a robust ArcelorMittal steel plant
$Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.JP)$It's solid. The company announced on the 21st that ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg) and others have installed CO2 capture devices in blast furnaces at steel mills owned by ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), etc., and have begun demonstration tests.

Chiyoda Chemical Construction - Sales Signs The company and the major US LNG plant have gone bankrupt = Nikkei
$Chiyoda (6366.JP)$There is a sales trend. The electronic edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported at 6:43 on the 22nd that US Cherry Holdings, a major plant company, applied for the application of US Federal Bankruptcy Law Section 11 (Chapter 11), which corresponds to Japan's Civil Rehabilitation Law, on the 21st.