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Market Chatter: Japan Buybacks Hit Record 22.32 Trillion Yen in Fiscal 2025

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-- Japan-listed companies' share buybacks reached a record 22.32 trillion yen in fiscal 2025, extending gains for a fifth straight year as companies face growing pressure to improve capital efficiency, Nikkei reported Friday.

The total value of announced repurchase programs rose 18% from a year earlier, following an 85% jump in fiscal 2024, according to the report.

Recruit Holdings (TYO:6098) launched a buyback of as much as 350 billion yen in March, while Toyota Motor (TYO:7203) repurchased shares tied to the planned privatization of Toyota Industries (TYO:6201), the report said.

The buyback surge follows a 2023 push by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for listed companies to improve shareholder returns and capital efficiency, according to the report.

The number of companies launching buybacks, however, fell 5% to 1,099 in fiscal 2025, amid concerns over higher repurchase costs and uncertainty tied to U.S. tariffs, the report said.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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