from today's Nikkei

賃上げ率１．７２％に上昇　今年3年連続、伸びは鈍化　国際競争力にらむ
一時金は２．７％　本社一次集計
According to ther data on the 2007 wage increases (preliminary,as of April 3) compiled by The Nihon Keizai Shimbun on April 13,the wage increases this spring of domestic major companies were on average 1.72 percent,0.05 percent up from the previous year, in terms of the regular monthly salary. This was the consecutive third increase over the previous year, but the increase rate had been declining given the increasing intensified global competition.As to bonuses, on the other hand, they marked a 2.7 percent hile on average,0.69 percent up from the previous year,which could be deemed (to be) a rather high increase.

from today's Nikkei

損失リスク表示義務　政省令案公表　ファンド規制導入　金融商品取引法　９月完全施行
The Financila Services Agency released Friday its draft for the ministerial ordinance related to the Financial Products Transaction Law,which would be a basic law for financial services deals.According to the plan, the agency intends to introduce a new regulation imposed on the financial institutions including the so-called investment funds.Specifically, the new regulation oblige the finacial services providers to exhibit in advertisements or pamphlets such things as how much chrages clients should pay come or how much losses clients might suffer in the most serious cases. Through these measures, they want to accelerate the protection for participants and generate a transparent market available for the people from all over the world.The Financila Products Transaction Law is slated to go into effect on a fullfledged basis in September.

from today's Nikkei

全日空の国内１３ホテル　モルガン、２８００億円で買収　不動産取引　国内で最大級
It is learned on Thursday that a major securities firm in the U.S. Morgan Stanley will purchase All Nippon Airways' 13 domestic hotels for 280 billion yen. This is one of the biggest-ever transactions in Japan in the the real estate deals.

from today's Nikkei

日中、経済連携強化で合意　環境・エネルギーに重点　戦略的互恵を加速　首相会談　安倍首相　年内訪中を表明
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Tokyo on Wednesday. In the talks between the two prime ministers, Japan and china (the two countries) reached an economic tie-up in order to concretely accelerate(materialize) the so-called mutually beneficial strategic ties,with the environment and energy issues especially focused. At the meeting with Wen, Abe conveyed his plan to visit China again as early as the autumn.

from today's Nikkei

ダイエー　ＯＭＣ株３１％売却へ　三井住友など名乗り　カード大手で争奪戦
The Daiei Incorporated,whichi is now under reconstruction,will buy out its 31.8-percent stake of its affiliated major credid card company OMC in June.In the first bid slated to be held in the middle of this month,major credit card companies,including Mitsui-Sumitomo Financial Group,likely will advance forward for getting the stake.