Good financial news for Japan. The Nikkei 225 average has almost come back to 10.000 after it had fallen under it last summer, eventually falling under 8000 in April. Since May, stocks are on the increase again.

The number of bankruptcies have improved since last year too.

Tokyo stocks open higher
Monday, July 14, 2003 at 12:41 JST
TOKYO � Tokyo stocks rose Monday morning, led by export-oriented technology issues after rises in U.S. equities on Friday.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 38.50 points, or 0.40%, to end the morning at 9,673.85. The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) of all First Section issues gained 4.10 points, or 0.43%, to 949.88. (Kyodo News)

Bankruptcies in Japan down 9%
Monday, July 14, 2003 at 14:10 JST
TOKYO � The number of corporate bankruptcies in January-June 2003 dropped 9.0% from a year earlier to 8,984, but it was the eighth-highest since the end of World War II for the first half of a year, Teikoku Databank Ltd. said Monday.

It is the first tally below 9,000 in four years for January-June, reflecting corporate efforts to avoid bankruptcy and an improved financing system in the public sector to support struggling businesses, the credit-research agency said. (Kyodo News)