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TOKYO, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling party is discussing whether to ease military equipment export rules, in part because without a change Britain would not be able to sell any jet fighters it builds with Japan, former defence minister Itsunori Onodera said.

Japan and Britain hope to agree by the end of the year to merge their next-generation Tempest and F-X fighter programmes, sources said in July. Those talks, aimed at a joint project to field a plane in the mid-2030s, remain on track, according to four other people familiar with the discussions.

Full coverage: REUTERS

Exclusive: China Central Bank To Offer Cheap Loans To Support Developer’s Bonds

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HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Nov 25 (Reuters) – China’s central bank will offer cheap loans to financial firms for buying bonds issued by property developers, four people with direct knowledge of the matter said, the strongest policy support yet for the crisis-hit sector.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) hopes the loans will boost market sentiment toward the heavily indebted property sector, which has lurched from crisis to crisis over the past year, and rescue a number of private developers, said the people, who asked not to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Full coverage: REUTERS

Oil Up As Markets Weigh China Demand Concerns, Russia Price Cap Uncertainty

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SINGAPORE, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Oil prices rose in Asia on Friday, despite thin market liquidity, after a week marked by worries about Chinese demand and haggling over a Western price cap on Russian oil.

Brent crude futures rose by 41 cents, or 0.48%, to trade at $85.75 a barrel at 0730 GMT.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures went up by 57 cents, or 0.73%, from Wednesday’s close to $78.51 a barrel. There was no WTI settlement on Thursday due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

Full coverage: REUTERS

Consumer Inflation In Japan’s Capital Rises At Fastest Pace In 40 Years

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TOKYO, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Core consumer prices in Japan’s capital, a leading indicator of nationwide trends, rose at their fastest annual pace in 40 years in November and exceeded the central bank’s 2% target for a sixth straight month, signalling broadening inflationary pressure.

The increase, driven mostly by food and fuel bills but spreading to a broader range of goods, cast doubt on the view of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) that recent cost-push inflation will prove transitory, some analysts said.

Full coverage: REUTERS

Morning Bid: Hangover

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A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Tom Westbrook

Treasuries emerged from Thanksgiving in fine fettle, but other assets were a little slower off the mark in Asia, with traders’ looking ahead to U.S. jobs and growth data next week.

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell more than five basis points to an eight-week low of 3.65%.

COVID and inflation kept a cap on things elsewhere – with core consumer prices rising at their fastest clip in 40 years in Tokyo truly a sign that inflation is everywhere. Japanese government bonds fell.

Full coverage: REUTERS