Starttech competed with the Nikkei average rising by 327 yen, and 4000 companies from different industries and start-ups participated in the opening of the new innovative rice trade fair CES with AI

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Consumer prices in Tokyo rise 2.1%, growth shrinks as expected in the market - December
The consumer price index (core CPI excluding fresh food) in the Tokyo district in December, which is a leading indicator of prices nationwide, rose 2.1% from the same month last year, and the growth rate shrank from the 2.3% increase in the previous month. The positive decline continued for the second month in a row. It was in line with the 2.1% increase in market expectations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications made the announcement on the 9th. Growth in core core CPI, which excludes fresh food and energy, declined from a 3.5% increase and a 3.6% increase in the previous month. Market expectations were up 3.5%.

Consumer spending actually fell 2.9% in 23/11, negative for 9 consecutive months
According to the 2023/11 household budget survey announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on the 9th, the consumption expenditure of households with 2 or more people was 286,922 yen, which actually decreased 2.9% from the same month last year excluding the effects of price fluctuations. The negative was the 9th month in a row. Real private consumption continues to stagnate due to the effects of inflation.

Tech competition, 4000 companies from different industries and start-ups participate in the opening of the new innovative rice trade fair CES with AI
The world's largest technology trade fair “CES” will open on the 9th in Las Vegas, USA. Generative AI (artificial intelligence), which rapidly penetrated in 2023, has become a detonator, and the possibility of technological innovation is expanding in various industries. Approximately 4,000 companies and startup companies from different industries, including IT (information technology), electronics, automobiles, finance, and cosmetics, gather and compete to launch new innovations in technology and services using AI. $Sony Group (6758.JP)$with $Honda Motor (7267.JP)$Sony Honda Mobility, a joint investment company of, is expected to announce a function update for the EV “AFEELA (AFEELA)” currently under development.

Lasertech, Toelec, etc. are high across the board, and the popularity of US semiconductor stocks spread against the backdrop of expectations of bottoming out market conditions
$Lasertec (6920.JP)$ 、 $Tokyo Electron (8035.JP)$、 $Advantest (6857.JP)$Things related to semiconductor manufacturing equipment, etc. have clearly shown an upward price orientation across the board. In the US stock market the day before $NVIDIA (NVDA.US)$Starting with skipping the price to 6.4%, the main semiconductor-related forces rose all at once, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Stock Index (SOX Index), which consists of semiconductor brands, also skipped a 3.3% increase in value, making it clear. In response to this, the Tokyo market is also encouraging the inflow of investment funds into the same related stocks.

Sony to cancel $10 billion merger plan with India & G - stakeholders
$Sony Group (6758.JP)$It is expected that the Indian division merger agreement with Indian media giant G-Entertainment Enterprises will be annulled. Merger negotiations aimed at the birth of a giant media company on the scale of 10 billion dollars spanned 2 years, but they came to an end. Sony is considering dissolution of the merger agreement on the grounds of a conflict over whether Mr. Punit Goenka, the CEO of G and the son of the founder, will become the head of the new company after the merger. Discussions between the two companies are still ongoing, and there is still a possibility that they will be settled by the deadline of the 20th of this month.

Panasonic HD will decide on a new US EV battery plant in fiscal year 24
$Panasonic Holdings (6752.JP)$Executives of the battery subsidiary Panasonic Energy, which is under their umbrella, indicated on the 8th that the construction site will be announced in 2024 for the construction of a new battery plant for electric vehicles (EVs) being considered in the United States. Conventionally, it was decided during fiscal year 23, but there is a possibility that it will be later than expected.

Sumitomo Corporation - 3 days of continuous increase in domestic biofuel mass production to decarbonize to 1 million tons per year
$Sumitomo (8053.JP)$continued to increase for 3 days. The morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun dated 9th reported that the company will begin mass production of biodiesel fuel domestically. In 2025, a demonstration plant will be put into operation in cooperation with the University of Tokyo, etc., and mass production will begin in '27 using thinned lumber and leftover sugarcane. In the future, it will increase to a maximum of about 1 million tons per year, aiming for sales of about 40 billion yen.

Asahi Kasei paves the way for the 12 trillion yen market to prevent children from being left behind with high-precision semiconductor automotive sensors
$Asahi Kasei (3407.JP)$New semiconductor chips will also be mass-produced in 2024/10. If a chip is incorporated into the sensor, accuracy can be enhanced to the extent that minute movements such as infant breathing can be distinguished, and it is effective in suppressing accidents left behind in automobiles. research company $Global Information (4171.JP)$According to the report, the global market for detection systems left behind with infants will expand to 83.13 billion dollars (12 trillion yen) in '30, 27 times compared to '22. Asahi Kasei captures growing demand for new semiconductors.

Honda - 4 days of continuous growth, considering recovery, including batteries at its EV factory in Canada
$Honda Motor (7267.JP)$It continued to grow for 4 days. The morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun dated 8th reported on the 7th that it became known that the company is considering building a new electric vehicle (EV) plant in Canada.