Tokyo Core Inflation Stays Above BOJ Target, Strengthening Case for Further Rate Hikes 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Holiday-Thinned Trading Persists 
Lebanon Cabinet Approves Financial Gap Law to Tackle Ongoing Economic Crisis 
Oil Prices Hold Steady in Asia as Geopolitical Tensions Support Market 
Japan Plans $189 Billion Bond Issuance as Record Budget Signals Expansionary Fiscal Policy 
ByteDance Plans Massive AI Investment in 2026 to Close Gap With U.S. Tech Giants 
Brazilian Oil Workers’ Strike Continues as Key Petrobras Union Rejects Proposal 
Novo Nordisk Stock Surges After FDA Approves Wegovy Pill for Weight Loss 
Warner Bros Discovery Weighs Amended Paramount Skydance Bid as Netflix Takeover Battle Intensifies 
Taiwan Stock Market Ends Higher as Semiconductor and Energy Shares Lead Gains 
Nvidia and Groq Strike Strategic AI Inference Licensing Deal 
BlackRock-Backed Global Ports Deal Faces Uncertainty Amid Cosco Demands 
TSMC Honors Japanese Chip Equipment Makers With 2025 Supplier Awards 
BOJ Governor Signals Gradual Rate Hikes as Japan’s Inflation Nears 2% Target 
Nvidia to Acquire Groq in $20 Billion Deal to Boost AI Chip Dominance 
Asian Markets Rise as AI Rally Caps 2025, Gold and Silver Hit Record Highs 
John Carreyrou Sues Major AI Firms Over Alleged Copyrighted Book Use in AI Training 
Naver Corp will acquire 20 percent of Seoul-based global e-commerce solutions provider Cafe24 to expand its global online shopping presence.
With the stake, estimated at between 150 billion and 200 billion won, Naver will become Cafe24’s largest shareholder.
However, the stake purchase doesn’t include the management right of Cafe24, which will likely issue new shares for the sale.
While the Cafe24 founder wants to keep the management rights, Naver is looking to take control over the long term.
Both sides are expected to sign the purchase agreement as early as this week.
Cafe24 has formed partnerships with Facebook, Google, Baidu, Yahoo! Japan, and other channels globally for its e-commerce solutions services.
With some 1.9 million subscribers, Cafe24 enjoyed 8.4 billion won in operating profit on a 247.3 billion won revenue last year.
Cafe24 operates in China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines and plans to put up offices in India and Europe.
