Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond yield hit 2.54 percent on Tuesday, the highest level since June 1997, according to a Nikkei report.
Continued turmoil in the Middle East has driven up crude oil prices, fueling market concerns over accelerating inflation in Japan and triggering a sustained sell-off in government bonds.
Data recently released by Japan's Ministry of Finance shows that the country's total government debt, including government bonds, borrowings, and short-term government securities, reached 1,343.84 trillion yen (about 8.54 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of March 2026, marking a record high for the 10th consecutive year.
Japan's 10-year gov't bond yield hits 29-year high
The Second World Brand Conference and the World Brand Day Inauguration Ceremony in Hong Kong took place on Sunday, announcing the permanent establishment of World Brand Day in the city and releasing a list of the top 100 most globally competitive Chinese brands.
Organized by the International Academy of Brand Science, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance, and the International Brand Network, the event gathered global brand policymakers, experts, business leaders, and cultural envoys. Its agenda included keynote speeches and the inauguration ceremony of the China Brand Overseas Development Service Center, all aimed at fostering global brand cooperation and sustainable growth. In a video address, John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, noted that China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) emphasizes strengthening brand leadership, upgrading standards, and applying new technologies to promote the renewal of consumer goods. With its unique advantage of "strong backing from the motherland and close connection with the world," Hong Kong serves as a vital platform for mainland enterprises and brands to go global, he said.
"Hong Kong has always been known as a city of brands and a shoppers' paradise. We not only hope to take Chinese brands out to the world but also bring international brands into the Chinese market. Hong Kong can play a role in connecting domestic and international markets," said Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the board of the International Academy of Brand Science.
Second World Brand Conference held in Hong Kong
