Sony: banking on "digital dream kids"

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Asia-Pacific wealth: 6.4% of Japanese will be 'wealthy' by 2004

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NTT DoCoMo: mobile phones and ATMs

The ATM sector is hot at the moment, with a number of interesting developments taking place across the world. DoCoMo's plan to integrate mobile phones and ATMs aims to capitalize upon the high levels of usage of mobile technologies in Japan. Japan may well be a test case for the rest of the world.

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Mobile payments: jury's still out

NTT DoCoMo is to trial a credit card linked mobile payment service in June. However, it may be found that the new payment system fails to present a strong enough business case. Conversely, there seems to be much more room for success in the micro-payments market. Yet even that niche will prove difficult to crack.<BR />

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Deutsche Bank: catch them if you can

Deutsche Bank [DB] is planning to raise an additional $1.5 billion in Japanese hedge fund assets over the next three years. In a break from past norms, it will work with Japanese banks and brokers to assist in selling its funds. Given the potential of the market, Deutsche Bank should be optimistic about catching up with rivals that have more established footprints in the region.

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UBS: Citigroup's woes could be wealth management opportunity

UBS' [UBS] results show a 37% increase in UBS Wealth Management's pre-tax profits for the first nine months of 2004, with record levels of invested assets and continued investment in expansion and recruitment. Having returned to the Japanese market during Citigroup's [C] recent regulatory troubles there, the wealth manager now has a significant opportunity that could propel it to greater heights.

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HSBC / Korea First Bank: foreign players will steady Korean ship

The last few years have been turbulent ones for South Korea's banking sector following a consumer spending boom turned sour. Yet the great interest evoked by Newbridge Capital's sale of its stake in KFB shows the market is turning a corner, with foreign players now keen to invest in the market. The presence of these players should ensure greater stability going forward.

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Merrill Lynch: renewed hope with the rising sun

Merrill Lynch [MER] and Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (MTFG) are in the latter stages of negotiations to establish a private banking and brokerage joint venture in Japan. If the deal goes through it will represent a compelling combination, and provide Merrill with unprecedented access to the enormous Japanese wealth market.

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Japan Post: a lucrative opportunity - for a bank with the cash

Radical plans to privatize Japan Post from April 2007 were announced yesterday. The Japanese postal service is the world's largest financial institution with savings deposits of $2,095 billion and some 25,000 branches. Its likely privatization is a daunting prospect for local competitors.

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Mizuho: when east meets west

Japan's Mizuho [8411.TO] bank has announced new links with US-based banks Wachovia [WB], Bank of New York [BK] and Wells Fargo [WFC]. Mizuho will use the links to develop a range of investment and retail products. More importantly though, Mizuho also plans to establish a private bank, but it will need to find a specialist wealth management partner to avoid over-stretching its capabilities.

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