News

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Thune: Democrats are "holding hostage" the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Cybersecurity Department, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard through a government shutdown, and the American people are paying the price. End the government shutdown and reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

According to Japan's Asahi Shimbun: delisting may become one of the options in Tokyo Electric Power Company's plan.

Philippine Agriculture Minister: Consultations are ongoing with India and Russia; will also consult with Belarus to ensure sufficient supply of fertilizers in the future.

According to Japan's Asahi Shimbun: Dozens of investment funds and companies, including KKR and Bain Capital, have expressed interest in Tokyo Electric Power's capital alliance plan.

BP (BP.N): The shutdown notice is not expected to disrupt operations or production.

According to Indian media Mint, India is negotiating with Iran for the safe passage of six liquefied petroleum gas carriers as supply concerns intensify.

Market news: Explosions were heard at a US military base in Saudi Arabia.

Security sources: Drone attack on US Embassy in Baghdad, explosion heard at the scene.

Japan's seasonally adjusted merchandise trade account in February was -374.243 billion yen, compared with the previous value of 455.5 billion yen.

Japan's unseasonally adjusted merchandise trade account in February was 57.3 billion yen, expected to be -483.2 billion yen, and the previous value was revised from -1,152.6 billion yen to -1,163.5 billion yen.

Japan's annual merchandise import rate in February was 10.2%, expected to be 11.5%. The previous value was revised from -2.50% to -2.60%.

Japan's annual merchandise export rate in February was 4.2%, expected to be 1.6%, and the previous value was 16.80%.

Australia's West Pacific Leading Indicator in February had a monthly rate of -0.09%, compared with -0.05% in the previous month.

Germany's Berlin Brandenburg Airport will be fully closed on Wednesday as a planned labor strike threatens to cancel all flights and disrupt the travel plans of more than 50,000 passengers.

Australia's S&P/ASX200 index opened up 5.80 points, or 0.07%, on Wednesday, March 18, to 8620.10 points.

Japan's Reuters Tankan manufacturing sentiment index in March was 18, compared with the previous value of 13.

Japan's Reuters Tankan non-manufacturing sentiment index for March was 25, compared with the previous value of 25.

U.S. Central Command: A few hours ago, the U.S. military used a 5,000-pound deep-penetrating bomb at an Iranian missile base on the coast of Iran near the Strait of Hormuz.

Mitsui CFO of Japan Merchant Line: Will consider stock split after stock price rises.

BP (BP.N): All parties will continue to negotiate; to end the shutdown, the United Steelworkers (USW) must accept the March 17 proposal.