{"id":55916,"date":"2025-11-12T02:08:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T02:08:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:08:30","slug":"japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan&#8217;s Finance Minister Warns on Weak Yen, Pfizer Wins $10B Obesity Drug Battle, US Shutdown Looms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/#Japan_Expresses_Urgent_Concern_Over_Weak_Yen_and_Market_Stability\" >Japan Expresses Urgent Concern Over Weak Yen and Market Stability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/#Pfizer_Secures_10_Billion_Obesity_Drug_Deal_Amid_Bidding_War\" >Pfizer Secures $10 Billion Obesity Drug Deal Amid Bidding War<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/#US_Shutdown_Vote_Looms_as_Lawmakers_Return\" >US Shutdown Vote Looms as Lawmakers Return<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/#Global_Energy_Demand_Projected_to_Rise_for_Decades\" >Global Energy Demand Projected to Rise for Decades<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/japans-finance-minister-warns-on-weak-yen-pfizer-wins-10b-obesity-drug-battle-us-shutdown-looms\/55916\/#International_Relations_North_Korea_Human_Rights_and_Abraham_Accords\" >International Relations: North Korea Human Rights and Abraham Accords<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Japan&#39;s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama<\/strong> has voiced strong concerns over the <em>weak yen<\/em>, noting its recent &quot;one-sided, rapid moves&quot; and contribution to price pressures, with harms potentially outweighing benefits. The government is monitoring FX movements with &quot;strong urgency&quot; and calling for stability.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>$10 billion bidding war<\/strong> for weight-loss drug developer <strong>Metsera<\/strong> has concluded with <strong>Pfizer (<a href=\"\/stock\/PFE\">PFE<\/a>)<\/strong> securing the deal, overcoming rival bids from <strong>Novo Nordisk (<a href=\"\/stock\/NVO\">NVO<\/a>)<\/strong> amidst legal and antitrust considerations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>US Speaker Mike Johnson<\/strong> is facing an &quot;unruly House&quot; as lawmakers return to Washington for a critical <strong>government shutdown vote<\/strong>, while the <strong>AUD<\/strong> and <strong>NZD<\/strong> hold firm as investors await the outcome.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)<\/strong> predicts that global oil and gas demand will continue to rise for another <strong>25 years<\/strong> without a significant shift in global policy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seoul<\/strong> has reaffirmed its support for a <strong>UN Human Rights Measure on North Korea<\/strong>, and <strong>former US President Donald Trump<\/strong> is pushing to expand the <strong>Abraham Accords<\/strong> following a Gaza ceasefire.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Japan_Expresses_Urgent_Concern_Over_Weak_Yen_and_Market_Stability\"><\/span>Japan Expresses Urgent Concern Over Weak Yen and Market Stability<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Japan&#39;s Finance Minister, <strong>Satsuki Katayama<\/strong>, has issued a series of strong warnings regarding the persistent weakness of the Japanese yen, emphasizing the government&#39;s heightened vigilance over volatile currency movements. Katayama noted that the recent foreign exchange moves have been &quot;one-sided and rapid,&quot; contributing to price pressures within the domestic economy.<\/p>\n<p>The Finance Minister stated that the disadvantages of the weak yen are becoming &quot;more pronounced than the advantages,&quot; signaling a shift in the government&#39;s assessment of the currency&#39;s impact. She underscored the importance of currency stability, reflecting economic fundamentals, and reiterated that the government is &quot;watching FX movements with strong urgency.&quot; While refraining from commenting on specific currency levels, Katayama&#39;s remarks suggest a growing discomfort in Tokyo with the yen&#39;s depreciation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pfizer_Secures_10_Billion_Obesity_Drug_Deal_Amid_Bidding_War\"><\/span>Pfizer Secures $10 Billion Obesity Drug Deal Amid Bidding War<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a significant development in the pharmaceutical sector, <strong>Pfizer (<a href=\"\/stock\/PFE\">PFE<\/a>)<\/strong> has successfully acquired weight-loss drug developer <strong>Metsera<\/strong> in a deal valued at up to <strong>$10 billion<\/strong>. This acquisition concludes an intense bidding war with rival <strong>Novo Nordisk (<a href=\"\/stock\/NVO\">NVO<\/a>)<\/strong>, which saw both pharmaceutical giants vying for a stronger position in the lucrative obesity drug market.<\/p>\n<p>The battle involved legal challenges and considerations of antitrust risks, with <strong>Pfizer&#39;s<\/strong> final offer, including an upfront cash payment and contingent value rights, ultimately deemed superior by <strong>Metsera&#39;s<\/strong> board. This strategic move positions <strong>Pfizer (<a href=\"\/stock\/PFE\">PFE<\/a>)<\/strong> to expand its portfolio in a market projected to reach <strong>$100 billion<\/strong> by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"US_Shutdown_Vote_Looms_as_Lawmakers_Return\"><\/span>US Shutdown Vote Looms as Lawmakers Return<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the United States, <strong>Speaker Mike Johnson<\/strong> is grappling with an &quot;unruly House&quot; as lawmakers return to Washington for a critical vote on the government shutdown. The impending vote creates uncertainty for global markets, although the <strong>Australian Dollar (AUD)<\/strong> and <strong>New Zealand Dollar (NZD)<\/strong> are reportedly holding firm as investors monitor developments.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_Energy_Demand_Projected_to_Rise_for_Decades\"><\/span>Global Energy Demand Projected to Rise for Decades<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)<\/strong> has released projections indicating that global demand for oil and gas is set to increase for another <strong>25 years<\/strong> if there is no fundamental change in global energy policies. This forecast highlights the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels despite growing calls for a transition to renewable energy sources.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"International_Relations_North_Korea_Human_Rights_and_Abraham_Accords\"><\/span>International Relations: North Korea Human Rights and Abraham Accords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On the geopolitical front, <strong>Seoul<\/strong> has reaffirmed its backing for a <strong>United Nations Human Rights Measure on North Korea<\/strong>. This move signals continued international scrutiny of Pyongyang&#39;s human rights record. Meanwhile, <strong>former US President Donald Trump<\/strong> is reportedly pushing to expand the <strong>Abraham Accords<\/strong> in the wake of a Gaza ceasefire, aiming to normalize relations between Israel and more Arab nations. Additionally, <strong>Beijing<\/strong> and <strong>Madrid<\/strong> have inked seven bilateral cooperation documents, indicating strengthening ties between China and Spain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Japan&#39;s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has voiced strong concerns over the weak yen, noting its recent &quot;one-sided, rapid 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