capital markets
South Korean financial technology group Viva Republica, the operator of the mobile financial super-app Toss, has agreed to acquire a 100% equity stake in Japanese smartphone-based brokerage Cheer Securities from Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings. The board of directors of Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings formally ratified the share transfer
capital markets
Nomura Holdings posted a 13% increase in second-quarter net profit from a year earlier, leveraging double-digit gains in wealth management and rising domestic interest rates to offset a sequential normalization in trading activity. Japan’s premier brokerage and investment bank reported net income attributable to shareholders of ¥103.
capital markets
Mirae Asset Securities has signed an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Tokyo-based Sanko Securities from Okasan Securities Group, securing direct operational access to Japan’s equities and capital markets. The transaction marks the first time a South Korean brokerage has obtained direct trading qualifications to conduct full-
capital markets
In mid-October 2026, Chinese financial authorities notified Daiwa Securities Group and Mizuho Financial Group that they had passed final operational readiness reviews, system audits, and on-site supervisory inspections, granting both groups full regulatory authorization to conduct wholly owned securities operations in mainland China. These approvals conclude protracted licensing
banking
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG, or SMBC Group) and its operating subsidiaries, led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Sumitomo Mitsui Card, have executed a series of strategic initiatives, demonstrating an aggressive balance sheet alignment and operational modernization strategy designed to maximize Return on Equity (ROE), rationalize Risk-Weighted
digital assets
Japanese cryptocurrency exchange operator Coincheck has launched "Coincheck Leverage," a crypto asset Contract For Difference (CFD) trading service, expanding its product suite to include leveraged trading and shorting capabilities directly within its primary mobile application. The service has rolled out to iOS users, with Android and web platforms
capital markets
The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and Osaka Exchange (OSE) have issued official censures to Moomoo Securities Japan, and ordered the firm to submit a business improvement report following severe operational and compliance failures. The regulatory action stems from deliberations by Japan Exchange Regulation following an inspection by the Securities and
asset management
Online brokerage firm Bloomo Securities has launched a new wealth management service, targeting wealthy individuals and pre-retirees in Japan seeking comprehensive, long-term asset management options amid ongoing inflation and yen depreciation. The firm introduced two distinct service tiers based on customer needs and asset sizes: * Advisor Course: Designed
capital markets
Japan’s Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) has recommended administrative action against Tokyo-based Moomoo Securities. The recommendation, submitted to the Prime Minister and the Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency (FSA), follows an agency investigation that uncovered severe compliance breaches, misleading retail practices, and systemic operational deficiencies at
banking
The Japanese financial sector is currently navigating a structural pivot, driven by the national economic mandate to transition the domestic capital base from "savings to investment." While the 2024 NISA reforms provided the initial catalyst, the market is entering a maturation phase. The strategic alliance between the SMBC
banking
The reorganization of the Rakuten Group’s FinTech business represents a fundamental alignment designed to maximize the lifetime value of the "Rakuten Ecosystem." By consolidating banking, credit card, and securities operations under the single listed umbrella of Rakuten Bank, the Group is moving to aggressively reduce customer acquisition
venture capital
The digital wealth management sector in Southeast Asia has entered a mature operational phase characterized by a shift from heavily subsidized user-acquisition campaigns to strict unit-economic profitability and capital efficiency. This structural transition is demonstrated by the operational model of Pluang, an Indonesian multi-asset investment platform developed