Japan

Japan's second-largest bank posts a US$6.1 billion profit from to April-December.

Recent stock market rally also benefits other Japanese megabanks.

Merchant acquiring and processing across Asia-Pacific is far from homogenous. It is a collection of quite unique markets.

Investment banker to open advisory business to leverage M&A boom in Asia.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants a bold policy leader to lead the central bank.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has formed an alliance with Myanmar's Co-operative Bank Ltd.

Japan Post Bank has been conditionally allowed by the government to launch three new businesses.

Taiwan’s Chinatrust is in talks to take over Tokyo Star Bank for US$580M.

Sells entire stake to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

Fitch Ratings sees no major recovery in domestic earnings.

Rating is now stable from negative.

Thomson Reuters survey confirms dominance.

I was at SIBOS, Osaka, Japan, last week, and it was a pleasure to meet several bankers across the world. Moreover, as the event was held in the Asia Pacific, there was a very good representation from the Asian Banking and Finance Community–a very good blend of banks, IT vendors, regulators, monetary agencies, Clearing and Settlement houses, depositories, and so on.

Blame it on exposure to troubled electronics manufacturers.

Illegal transfer suspected through phishing.

NTT DoCoMo has partnered with MasterCard Worldwide to enable its smartphone users to make contactless electronic payments in other countries.