- Japan's Cabinet has approved an unpopular plan to reinstate nuclear energy as an important source of electricity, although there are doubts about how big a role atomic power will be able to play.
- Japan may have to leave up to two-thirds of its 48 idled nuclear reactors closed, a Reuters analysis shows, due to the high cost of upgrades, local opposition or seismic risks.
- The country's nuclear plants were shut following the Fukushima disaster over three years ago, which has caused the country to significantly increase its energy imports. That has acted as a drag on GDP and prompted fears that Japan could suffer from a permanent current-account surplus which could undermine confidence in its massive debt.
- Relevant tickers: DNN, CCJ, USU, URRE, UEC, URG
- Japan ETFs: DXJ, EWJ, FXY, YCS, JGBS-OLD, JGBD, OTC:JYN, NKY, DBJP, EZJ, EWV, YCL, ITF, JPNL, JGBL, JPP, JGBT, JPNS, HEWJ, JGBB, FJP, URA
- Nuclear ETFs: URA, NLR, NUCL