JPX Monthly Headlines

JPX group companies undertake various initiatives and disseminate information with the aim of providing the most attractive markets to all users.
Every month, we showcase the highlights of these efforts in short and concise summaries just for you.

January

Jan. 4: First Trading Day of 2017

On Jan. 4, JPX and its group companies held the ceremony to mark the first trading day in the new year. The event saw many people from the industry and the public who had entered into a public ballot.
This year, the crowds in Osaka and Tokyo were treated to live on-site broadcasts of the bell-ringing in Tokyo and "daikabujime" clapping in Osaka.
Also, in Tokyo, Finance Minister Taro Aso delivered his congratulatory remarks and rang the bell alongside women in kimono.

Ringing the bell in Tokyo

"daikabujime" clapping in Osaka

Jan. 22: Seminar Held to Launch Nikkei Publication

On Jan. 22, to mark the launch of a magazine-book publication on ETFs, TSE held a seminar on financial planning for living to 100. During the seminar, panelists engaged in a heated debate on how to plan for a life of 100 years in a panel discussion and answered simple questions on ETFs in another session, highlighting the benefits and appeal of ETFs, which remain relatively unfamiliar to Japanese investors.

(Only in Japanese)

Jan. 28: J-REIT Fan 2017

On Jan. 28, TSE (JPX), Nikkei Radio Broadcasting Corporation, and PRONEXUS Inc. jointly held "J-REIT Fan 2017" at TSE.
Exhibitors included 14 investment corporations and one securities firm. The investment corporations gave presentations at three separate stages in the venue. Almost all the sessions were packed with investors, who were eagerly gathering information throughout the event.

Jan. 30: Improving Clearing Services for OTC Derivatives

On Jan. 30, for the purpose of reducing the burden for users, JSCC launched new services to improve user convenience, opening cross-margining* between interest rate swap (IRS) and JGB futures to other users and adding a function to suppress changes in collateral amounts by allowing JSCC to conduct obligation assumption for a combination of transactions that include IRS.
JSCC will continue working to provide more convenient services to meet the needs of its users.
* A system that reduces collateral obligations by offsetting risks for different types of transactions.

Jan. 30: Consolidated Financial Results for Q3 FY2016

On Jan. 30, JPX released its consolidated earnings report for Q3 FY2016. Operating revenue was down JPY 4.6 billion (-5.4%) year-on-year to JPY 80.6 billion due mainly to a decrease in revenues from trading services. Operating expenses were up JPY 1 billion (+2.9%) year-on-year to JPY 37.1 billion due mainly to an increase in depreciation and amortization in connection with system replacement. As a result, operating income decreased JPY 6.9 billion (-13.4%) to JPY 44.8 billion with net income (attributable to owners of the parent company) down 3.6 billion (-10.3%) to JPY 31.8 billion. Although both income and profit decreased compared with the previous year, during which the company booked record profits, operating revenue remains largely in line with the current forecast.

Jan. 30: Acquisition of Own Shares and Issuance of Corporate Bond on TOKYO PRO-BOND Market

JPX reached resolutions at its Board of Directors meeting, held on Jan. 30, on the acquisition of own shares (buyback) and issuance of corporate bonds. This is aimed at implementing a capital policy that utilizes debt in light of the current interest rate environment and increasing shareholder returns. The share buyback, amounting to JPY 16 billion, will be conducted on the TSE market until Jul. 27. Combined with the buyback that was conducted based on the board resolution made on Jul. 28, 2016 (approx. JPY 4 billion), the total buyback value is expected to reach around JPY 20 billion. Funds for the buyback will be raised by issuing corporate bonds. The bonds will be issued on TOKYO PRO-BOND Market, with issuance and listing planned for March after the necessary issuance procedures have been completed.

Jan. 30: Grand Prix Winner of Listed Company Award

TSE selected Kao Corporation as the Grand Prix winner of the 5th Corporate Value Improvement Award. Kao laid the groundwork for improvement in corporate value by adopting such performance indicators as EVA (Economic Value Added), which serves as a gauge to measure how far value creation has surpassed capital costs. Kao has also successfully integrated EVA into various management processes, allowing it to achieve sustainable value-creating growth. The award recognizes the outstanding measures at Kao toward improving corporate value. Selection of the winner was based on the results of the examination by the Listed Company Award Selection Committee (Chairman: Research Professor Kunio Ito, Graduate School of Commerce and Management, Hitotsubashi University).