from today's Nikkei

米、日本にシェールガス　来月にも輸出禁輸　

According to sources familiar with the matter,the U.S. govvernment will likely lift its ban on exporting natural gas, such as shale gas, a new type of gas, as soon as possible, in spring this year in the earliest case. The government intends to permit the exports to other countries than the signatories of the Free Trade Agreement(FTA) with the U.S. Then, a consortium of Japanese companies are expected to participate in the project related to the shale gas. It is said that through the so-called shale gas revolution the U.S. will become the world's largest producer of gas and oil. If exports of cheaper gas from the country extend full-fledgedly, there will be a great influence on the world's demand and supply situation of energy, relationship between oil-producing and consuming countries, and firms' business strategies.

from today's Nikkei

車・精密　円安で利益増　トヨタ　１１００億円上方修正　３月期　中国減速、下押しも

A recent weaker yen in the foreign exchange market has begun to bolster the automobile and precision machinery industries in terms of their profits. Toyota Motor Corporation revised Tuesday its consolidated profit before tax in the business year through the end of March this year by 110 billion yen from the previous estimate. There has also been a positive effect for other firms like Daihatsu Motor Co. and Richo co. On the other hand, in the electric machinery and general machinery industries, there is still an influence from a decelerated Chinese economy. So, in total, an overall margin of increase of estimated profits is small.