Japan’s industrial production jumped 5.7 per cent in May from the previous month, reflecting a steady recovery in earthquake-hit supply chains following the March 11 quake and tsunami. The level beat market expectations of a 5.5-per cent increase and followed a revised 1.6-per cent monthly rise in April. Rising production of automobiles boosted the data, the industry ministry said in a statement. “Industrial... 

Toyota said it will hire 3,000 to 4,000 temporary workers in Japan to be ready for a recovery in vehicle production as automakers bounce back from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Toyota Motor Corp. will start recruiting the factory workers in July, as production is now gradually recovering and expected to surge by October, company spokesman Shigehiko Okamura said Tuesday. Production at Toyota... 

Japanese auto giant Toyota said on Wednesday its domestic production would return to about 90 per cent of its pre-quake level in June thanks to a faster-than-expected recovery of parts supplies. “We are expecting production to reach 90 per cent within this month for Japan,” much higher than the previous goal of 70 per cent for June, Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said. In April, domestic... 

The dollar slipped on Thursday with funds sensing a rally this month is ending and expectations increasing that commodity prices have resumed an uptrend, pushing up equities in Asia’s energy and materials sectors. Investors have been struggling to find a common theme in financial markets after two routs in commodities over the past two weeks led to a reduction of risky assets in portfolios.... 

US investment king Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway reported a sharp plunge in first-quarter earnings Friday, hit heavily by insurance losses on Japan’s earthquake-tsunami disaster. Net earnings fell 56 per cent to $1.51 billion from $3.63 billion a year earlier for the diversified investment house, long a favorite with small investors. Earnings per the company’s “A”... 

Japanese shares lost 0.98 per cent on Tuesday morning on a firmer yen, worries over automobile production and a disappointing earnings report from Nintendo, brokers said. The Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 94.32 points to 9,577.64 by noon. The Topix index of all first section shares declined 0.70 per cent or 5.89 points to 834.79. Exporters fell on a stronger yen and major automakers... 

Vietnam would continue to import farm products from Japan but would strengthen inspection on radiation safety, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced. At a meeting last Friday, Minister Cao Duc Phat requested agencies to publish regulations on the permitted level of radioactivity for each specific type of food products. The ministry would be responsible for inspecting raw products... 

HCMC – Japan’s low demand for seafood and farming products, especially shrimp, in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country on March 11 will see a sustained downturn for Vietnamese exporters. Nguyen Viet Cuong, president of Phu Cuong JSC. a large exporter that owns 20 processing plants in the Mekong Delta, said he’s still completing shrimp and fish products for... 

Car dealers and automobile joint ventures, who are impatiently waiting for imports from Japan, have become anxious upon hearing that Japanese automobile manufacturers have halted the operation of their factories in catastrophe-stricken areas. Tsunami makes Vietnamese car dealers suffer According to Pham Anh Tuan, a senior executive of Toyota Vietnam, Toyota has shut down two factories in the areas... 

Insurer AIG said Friday that Japan’s massive earthquake and tsunami disaster would cost its Chartis subsidiary $700 million in the first quarter of 2011. AIG said the property casualty insurance unit would be hit with another $200 million in pre-tax insurance losses from other disasters, including the January New Zealand earthquake, and huge floods in Australia and Brazil. The preliminary Chartis...