Nikkei starts with an average increase of 138 yen Nippon Steel explains the significance of the US Steel acquisition in Washington - lobbyists are also employed

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Japan is under pressure to “open up human resources” due to labor shortages, and the acceptance system is still developing
Labor shortages are becoming serious in Japan due to the declining birthrate and aging population. Companies and regions are being pressured to accept foreign workers at an unprecedented pace. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare's January announcement, the number of foreign workers working in Japan was a record high of 2,048,675 as of the end of October last year, an increase of 12.4% compared to the previous year. As the number of job offers increases in occupations such as assembly lines, construction, crop harvesting, and nursing care for the elderly, etc., it is expected that acceptance of foreign human resources will continue at a rapid pace in the future.

Japan, the US, and South Korea leave China due to trade and fall to the top position for the first time in 17 years as US import partners
The degree of trade dependence on China is declining in Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Europe. In the five years up to 2023, each country's share of China's trade fell 0.1 to 2.5 points. According to last year's trade statistics released by the U.S. Department of Commerce on the 7th, China fell out of the lead for the first time in 17 years as an import partner of the United States. Divisions among major trading powers could cast a shadow on global economic growth.

Nippon Steel explains the significance of the US Steel acquisition in Washington - lobbyists are also employed
$Nippon Steel (5401.JP)$Vice President Takahiro Mori will be a major US steel company on the 7th $United States Steel (X.US)$Regarding the acquisition, it was clarified that they visited Washington D.C., the capital of the United States in mid-late January and explained the significance of the acquisition to stakeholders.

Postal logistics handling reduced by 5.5% from April to December, postal administration president “very difficult”
$Japan Post Holdings (6178.JP)$The postal and logistics business is sluggish. Handling volume for the 2023-4-12 fiscal year decreased by 5.5% compared to the same period last year. Mail prices are expected to rise this fall, but the effect is temporary. $Japan Post Bank (7182.JP)$with $Japan Post Insurance (7181.JP)$The structure of depending on profits from the two financial companies continues.

TOPPANHD - Backlash for the first time in 6 days, IBM and EUV photomask begin joint development
$Toppan Holdings (7911.JP)$rebounded for the first time in 6 days. On the 7th, the company's group company Toppan Photomask signed a joint research and development agreement on photomasks compatible with 2 nanometer logic semiconductor process nodes using EUV lithography, including high-NA EUV for next-generation semiconductors $IBM Corp (IBM.US)$It was announced that it had concluded an agreement with (New York State, USA).

Resona HD forms business partnership with 16 FG to strengthen sales network in the Chukyo area
$Resona Holdings (8308.JP)$On the 7th, the Chubu region is based $Juroku Financial Group (7380.JP)$It was announced that a business alliance will be formed with. In addition to promoting digital transformation (DX), they will cooperate through business succession and the formation of cooperative loans. With this partnership, Resona will lead to business expansion in the underdeveloped Chukyo area.

SoftBank - rebound for the first time in 4 days, full-year operating income revised upward, 3Q cumulative decrease 26%
$SoftBank (9434.JP)$rebounded for the first time in 4 days. The company announced on the 7th that it will revise its consolidated operating profit forecast (IFRS) for the full fiscal year 24.3 upward from the previous 780 billion yen to 840 billion yen (down 20.8% from the previous fiscal year). The market consensus is 827.2 billion yen.

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