Japan's August retail sales climbed 2.8% year on year, beating Reuters poll estimates of a 2.3% rise, and up from a revised 2.7% rise in July.

Markets still show almost no chance of a BOJ tightening in October, but have 6 bp of hikes for December, so about a 24% chance of a quarter-point rise. Then again, the market only has the current 0.25% rate reaching 0.5% by the end of next year, so it's not exactly a hawkish outlook.

Most Asia shares hold ground, Japan rate fears dent NikkeiAsia share markets were mostly firmer on Monday as China announced more stimulus measures, though the Nikkei dived on concerns Japan's new prime minister favoured normalising interest rates.

A truck with pandas was leaving the zoo at 4 a.m., some zoo staff were crying, seeing off their pets. Also, a huge crowd of Tokyo residents came to see off the animals. September 30th, 2024. EADaily

Japan's Ueno Zoological Garden announced the safe return of elderly pandas Shin Shin and Ri Ri to China for medical treatment. The duo had arrived in 2011, becoming a source of joy following Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.