News

The US stock market experienced a volatile Wednesday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.5% after a positive inflation report, but concerns about President Trump's trade war continued to weigh on investor sentiment. The trade war has already begun to impact consumer and business confidence, and its long-term impact on the US economy remains unclear.

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son intends to borrow up to $24 billion by early 2026 for investments in artificial intelligence, particularly targeting ventures such as OpenAI and Stargate. This follows recent discussions and announcements involving significant investments and partnerships with Oracle, OpenAI, and involvement from the U.S. government.

Ministers from Japan and Britain met for their first "two-plus-two" economic dialogue in Tokyo, agreeing to uphold free and fair international trade amidst rising global tariff tensions. They also pledged collaboration on WTO reforms, climate change strategies, and ensuring a balanced global economic playing field.

Asian stocks got off to a mixed start on Monday as uncertainty over President Donald Trump's next move on tariffs persisted, with China leading losses and Japan edging higher. Wall Street rebounded on Friday after a volatile week, with the Federal Reserve Chair easing market concerns and U.S. job growth accelerating.

Tokyo authorities have announced plans to subsidize smartphone purchases for elderly residents to encourage digital access and inclusivity. While implementation details remain under discussion, the initiative includes wider community tech assistance and a promotional strategy for a government-developed multipurpose application.