Energy Markets: ABN Amro’s clearing unit plans to enter Japan’s electricity futures trading at the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, aiming to qualify to broker and settle trades as early as this month—an early sign of more global competition in a market long dominated by smaller local players. Business Pulse: Japan’s services sector grew at its fastest pace in five months in August, with stronger domestic demand lifting activity, while export orders continued to contract and firms kept passing through costs—fueling expectations of further Bank of Japan rate hikes. Finance Regulation: Japan’s Financial Services Agency will tighten scrutiny of how banks assess credit risk tied to overseas nonbank lenders and real estate firms, including screening and risk management for lending exposures. US-Japan Trade: Japan and the US say progress continues on their $550B investment program, with the next tranche expected to put AI and semiconductors front and center. Climate & Agriculture: Extreme heat is reshaping farm work, with some growers shifting labor to overnight hours to avoid heatstroke and protect yields. Defense Policy: Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi is likely to keep Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a cabinet reshuffle as Tokyo pushes revisions to key security documents. Tech/Space Defense: Japan’s defense ministry has contracted NTT Data for a satellite designed to process surveillance data in orbit and route targeting outputs directly to weapons platforms, now reflected in FY2027 budget plans.