$SMFG

Major Japanese bank stocks rose on Friday, with Mizuho, Sumitomo Mitsui, Mitsubishi UFJ, Japan Post Bank, and Resona gaining 3.2% to 4.5%. The Nikkei 225 also climbed over 1%. This followed a surge in Japanese government bond yields, hitting a 30-year high, and expectations of further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve. Higher yields improve lending margins for banks, but also increase credit risks. Japan Post Bank outperformed due to its large government bond book.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SMBC) is in talks to increase its stake in Vietnam's VPBank to 20% from 15%, according to sources. The deal, valued at around $425 million for a 5% stake, aims to deepen SMBC's exposure to Vietnam's growing market. Negotiations are ongoing, with disagreements over valuation. Both companies declined to comment.

Asian bank stocks fell Tuesday, led by Japanese lenders, after Bank of America warned of weaker trading and investment-banking revenue in Q3, citing a likely 10% drop in fees to $1.6B-$1.8B. Rising bond yields and rate hike expectations added pressure. U.S. financial stocks also declined Monday, with BofA down 5.1% and the KBW Bank Index falling 1.9%.

Japanese banks are raising deposit rates and offering rewards to attract savers as interest rates rise. Mizuho, Mitsubishi UFJ, and Sumitomo Mitsui are among those introducing new services. Banks profit from the spread between deposit and lending rates. Consumers are weighing deposits against investments, with varying strategies. Regional banks are also innovating with themed products, like Kairos' space-industry deposit.

The Nikkei 225 rose 0.47% to 66,444.13, with gains across most sectors except heavyweights like SoftBank and Fast Retailing. Toyota, Honda, and other exporters advanced. Tokyo inflation rose 1.9% YoY, matching expectations. U.S. markets gained, while European stocks mostly fell.

The Nikkei 225 fell 2.31% to 65,899.30, led by declines in SoftBank Group, Toyota, and other exporters. Core machinery orders in Japan rose 9.7% in June, beating forecasts. U.S. markets also declined, with the Nasdaq down 1.3%.

Anchi Kazuyuki (Sr. Mg. Corp. EO & Group CFO) sold 4,000 shares of SUMITOMO MITSUI FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. (SMFG) at $42.47 ($0.17M total) on 2026-08-12.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 957.29 points, or 1.42%, to 68,481.35, extending gains after mixed Wall Street cues. Financials and some tech stocks led, while automakers were weaker. SoftBank Group gained over 2%, Advantest rose nearly 5%. Japan producer prices rose 7.2% y/y in July, below expectations.

Seven & i Holdings and Seven-Eleven Japan partnered with SoftBank, PayPay, LY Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Card to link 7-Eleven’s store network with digital payments and AI services. Seven & i said it formed equity ties with SoftBank, PayPay and Sumitomo Mitsui Card, with 7iD integrating with PayPay accounts and points interoperability at stores.

Japan’s top three banks, MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and Mizuho Bank, are raising foreign-currency liquidity buffers to $1.25 trillion to be ready for potential sudden dollar funding demand from corporate clients, according to the banks, amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.