capital markets
In order to improve the effectiveness of the market restructuring, the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has established a Council of Experts, which includes economists, investors, listed companies, academics and other market participants, to continuously follow up on the progress of measures and investor evaluations, and to discuss additional measures regarding
credit card
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank will reorganize its subsidiaries engaged in the credit card business, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Card and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Club, with the merger of both companies scheduled for October 1, 2025. Trust Club issues cards such as the Diners Club Card, which has many high-income members, while
venture capital
Forseas has established and completed the first close of a new fund, "Shinryo Fund" (Shinryo No.1 Investment Limited Partnership), which will primarily invest in and support seed-stage startups with funding from investors centered in Okinawa Prefecture. Forseas will actively develop investments in startups driving new growth industries
crypto
Sony Electronics Singapore (SES) and Crypto.com have enabled the acceptance of Circle's USDC, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, exclusively on the Sony Store Online in a move to make direct crypto payment accessible to SES’ consumers. The integration of cryptocurrency payments is gaining traction worldwide to appeal
embedded finance
SmartPlus, part of the Finatext Group that realizes embedded finance through the provision of next-generation financial infrastructure, has updated the functions of its securities business platform "BaaS (Brokerage as a Service)" and is now offering bond trading services. Background and Purpose With the recent rise in long-term interest
asset management
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Daiwa Securities Group, and Daiwa Institute of Research have entered into a business alliance agreement in the field of asset management and asset administration. By combining the strengths and expertise of both groups, the companies aim to reform the asset management industry
Insurance
Sumitomo Mitsui Card, Sony Life, and Next Solution (Nexsol) have formed a business alliance for collaboration in the insurance sales business through insurance agencies. Sumitomo Mitsui Card and Sony Life will also invest in Nexsol, a multi-carrier insurance agency. Background and Purpose of the Alliance In recent years, changes in
cashless
PayPay Corporation announces that the number of "PayPay" payments in 2024 has exceeded 7.46 billion, accounting for approximately 1 in 5 of the total 38.8 billion cashless payments in Japan. The total number of QR code payments increased by 23% year-on-year to over 11.5 billion,
digital
Digital Garage has integrated three group companies - Naviplus (main business: marketing support for EC businesses), DG Commerce (main business: EC site development), and Scudet (main business: fraud detection and prevention solutions) - and launched a new company, DG Business Technology, to provide comprehensive digital business support. Under the group
sustainability
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has decided to issue the “Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. 14th series unsecured bond with callable clauses (no collateral provision restrictions or other financial covenants)”, the proceeds of which are to fund the construction of the new MUFG Headquarters Building. Background MUFG published its Green Finance
venture capital
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank has announced that its subsidiary, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Investment, has formed the Circular Economy/Nature Positive No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership jointly with SBI Shinsei Corporate Investment, and commenced investment activities. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank has also announced that it has made an LP investment in
Insurance
Robert (Bob) Pick, the CIO of Tokio Marine North America and Deputy Group CIO for Tokio Marine Group worldwide, joined the "Leading Change" podcast with Ema Roloff to discuss the realities of implementing Agile methodologies in organizations, particularly those that are not tech-centric. He critiques the unrealistic expectations