Japan’s current account surplus hits pre subprime mortgage crisis

The results for the April-March period reflect how the Japanese economy is on a steady recovery track thanks to strong external demand.

Published

4 years ago

May 12, 2017

Fujiko Takahashi

Japan’s current account surplus for fiscal 2016 soared to pre-Lehman shock levels, backed by steady exports to Asia and a fall in crude oil prices.

The results for the April-March period reflect how the Japanese economy is on a steady recovery track thanks to strong external demand.

The surge in the number of foreign tourists to Japan, however, saw the travel balance post a largest-ever 1.28 trillion yen surplus.

The number of visitors to the country grew around 20% in fiscal 2016 compared to the year before.

The figure shows the amount of money foreign tourists spent in Japan eclipsed what Japanese spent abroad.

Finance ministry data showed Thursday that Japan logged a current account surplus of 20.2 trillion yen ($176.9 billion) in the year ended March 31, a 13.1% increase from the previous year and the highest since 2007.

The figure was the third largest ever, and marked the third straight year of growth.

The surplus, which was at around 18 trillion yen in fiscal 2010, sank following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, falling to around 2 trillion yen in fiscal 2013 as imports of fossil fuels shot up after the suspension of the country’s nuclear power plants.

Source: Japan 2016 current account surplus hits pre-Lehman levels- Nikkei Asian Review

Health

Thailand approves COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use

The first lot of 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca will arrive in Thailand early next month, after receiving approval from the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Published

7 hours ago

January 26, 2021

Boris Sullivan

Bangkok (NNT) – The FDA Secretary General Paisal Dunkhum, said today the FDA had approved the registration of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca in Italy.

(more…)

Tourism

Interprovincial travel in Thailand amid COVID-19 controls

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is suspending 57 additional train services from 26 January, 2021, as part of the nationwide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include ordinary trains, local trains, and suburban trains in the North (13 routes), Northeast (18 routes), South (12 routes), and East (14 routes).

Published

7 hours ago

January 26, 2021

Tourism Authority of Thailand

This update includes the latest announcement from the State Railway of Thailand regarding the suspension of 57 additional train services from 26 January, 2021.

(more…)

Corporate

Covid-19 puts flexible space markets under strain

In the wake of operator defaults, landlords will be forced to re-evaluate the role of flexible space in their portfolios.

Published

7 hours ago

January 26, 2021

Daniel Lorenzzo

The global Covid-19 outbreak has had serious negative effects on commercial real estate, including flexible space. Of late, many operators have experienced the flexible nature of the business working against them, as many occupiers have opted to surrender desks and implement work-from-home plans.

(more…)