Japan

The strong yen, a bane for Japanese exporters, is proving a gold mine for Japanese banks intent on mergers and acquisitions aboard, especially in Europe.

Aided by steady demand for business funds in areas hit by the massive March earthquake, Japanese bank lending grew 0.7 percent in January from a year earlier to 396.73 trillion yen

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial has identified 2016 as the year where things could go from bad to worse for Japan.

Mizuho Financial Group took an 80% drop in profit during 4Q11 on a tax asset write-down and weaker stock markets.

Mizuho Financial Group's net profit in the April-December 2011 period went down by 35.8 percent to US$3.6 billion.

Three of Japan’s largest banks have begun a campaign to conquer at least 10% of Australia’s lucrative banking industry.

Sources said HSBC Premier could be shut if offers aren’t attractive.

Japanese banks, already reeling from the country’s massive debt, fear international sanctions on Iran could deliver a “big blow” to their system.

Japan’s burgeoning debt, now equal to about twice the country's annual economic output, focuses sharp attention of the vulnerabilities of Japanese banks.

The IMF is conducting is gauging the vulnerability of Japanese banks to a potential drop in the value of their huge holdings of Japanese government bonds.

The strong yen is making Europe a profitable hunting ground for leading Japanese banks bent on mergers & acquisitions.

Running short of viable investment options, Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group will continue investing in U.S. Treasuries to boost profits.

The lender also plans to buy an investment bank in Asia.

Japan's second biggest bank received $90b in offers from European banks.

This is part of HSBC's strategy to cut $3.5b annual costs.

But to which company will HSBC be selling it to?