The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said yesterday it had injected another ¥1.5 trillion (US$14 billion) into money markets to help stabilize the international financial system after recent turmoil.
The BOJ announced the move on its Web site shortly after the opening of the stock market, which was sharply higher on news of a US rescue package for the financial sector.
The BOJ is one of six major central banks that pledged last week to coordinate monetary action to ensure a flow of liquidity after the collapse of investment giant Lehman Brothers.
The Japanese central bank injected ¥11 trillion into the system last week.
Meanwhile, three sources said top brokerage group Nomura Holdings was buying the Asian assets of bankrupt Wall Street firm Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
The people, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Nomura succeeded in its bid for Lehman’s Asian operations yestersday.
The Wall Street Journal reported the deal was worth US$225 million.
Another source said Standard Chartered PLC and Barclays PLC also placed bids for the assets and that the winner was likely to be announced as soon as yesterday.
Separately, Nomura and Barclays were contending for Lehman’s European operations, another person told the news service.
Japan’s Jiji Press also reported that Nomura had proposed to buy both the Asian and European units of Lehman.
Nomura representatives kept quiet on the reports and said there was no immediate plan for any announcement on the issue.
“There is nothing we can say at this point,” a Nomura spokesman said in Tokyo.
However, investors welcomed the reports.
Shares of the Japanese firm shot up 8.51 percent in morning trade.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
‘TROUBLEMAKER’: Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan. Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense. Asked about the escalating tensions