TOKYO: Tokyo’s stock markets will resume trade on Friday, their operator said, after a “hardware failure” caused an unprecedented day-long shutdown of one of the world’s biggest exchanges.
All transactions were suspended for the entire day on Tokyo’s two leading indexes, as well as smaller exchanges in other parts of the country, over a glitch that created problems with the delivery of market information.
“We plan to conduct buying and selling as usual tomorrow,” the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) said in a Thursday statement, hours after officials said the issue had been identified and was being fixed.
There was no indication of a cyberattack or other foul play.
But the problem required a system restart that “would have created confusion among investors and market participants,” said TSE president Koichiro Miyahara at an afternoon press conference.
“After discussing with market participants, we decided to stop the market for the whole day.”
“We caused great inconvenience to many market participants and investors... We sincerely apologize,” he added.
The problem was traced to a memory breakdown that failed to properly trigger a switch to a back-up system.
Officials said the faulty hardware had been replaced and personnel would be deployed to monitor the system and avoid a repeat problem.
The problem was identified before the market opened, with operator Japan Exchange Group (JPX) announcing a halving of trade less than 30 minutes before the opening bell.
Around noon, JPX said trading would be halted for the rest of the day, marking the first all-day stoppage since its current operating system was installed in 1999.
The glitch hit the country’s top Nikkei 225 and Topix indexes, as well as exchanges in Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka that operate through Tokyo’s system. The Osaka exchange was not affected.
JPX is the third largest exchange in the world by market capitalization, at an estimated $5.1 trillion, including listings on exchanges outside Tokyo.
It sits behind only the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, according to the World Federation of Exchanges.
The trading halt closed one of the few major markets that was due to be open in Asia on Thursday, with bourses in Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea and Taipei all closed for holidays.
It is the first significant glitch to hit Tokyo since 2018, when a trading system problem left some securities firms unable to execute orders, although the effect on overall market activity was limited.
The market did not shut either during the September 11, 2001 attacks or the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, but one entire morning session in November 2005 was suspended over a technical problem.
The JPX spokesman said it was the first time an entire trading day had been lost since the current Arrowhead system was installed in 1999.
It came after the New Zealand Exchange was hit by cyberattacks in August, forcing trading halts over several days, but Japanese officials said there was no indication so far of foul play.
“We don’t have any information to hand that suggests that,” TSE spokesman Hiroyuki Takahashi told AFP.
Government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said the Financial Services Agency had instructed JPX to quickly restore operations and investigate the problem.
He said the government had no immediate suggestion that a cyberattack was involved but added he would “decline to say anything definite” at this stage.
Analysts said the glitch was not likely to have a significant immediate impact on the market.
“The last time something like this happened was in 2005. At that time, the impact was not that profound,” said Makoto Sengoku, a market analyst at the Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.
“If you watch the futures, they are up. For now, expectations are that the impact will be limited,” he told AFP.
Trade to resume Friday in Tokyo after hardware shutdown
https://arab.news/wy98t
Trade to resume Friday in Tokyo after hardware shutdown
Saudi Aramco achieves significant progress in its gas production plan
RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has announced the achievement of significant progress in its plan to expand gas production, with the start of production at the Jafurah field, the largest unconventional gas field in the Middle East, and the commencement of operational activities at the Tanajib Gas Plant, one of the largest gas plants in the world.
The oil giant aims to increase its sales gas production capacity by approximately 80 percent by 2030 compared to 2021 production levels, reaching nearly 6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day from total gas and associated liquids production, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
This is expected to generate additional operating cash flows ranging between $12 billion and $15 billion in 2030, subject to future demand for sales gas and liquids prices.
President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, Amin Al-Nasser, said: “We are proud to commence production at the Jafurah field and begin operations at the Tanajib Gas Plant. These are major achievements for Saudi Aramco and the future of energy in the Kingdom. Our ambitious gas program is expected to become a key source of profitability.”
He affirmed that these mega-projects contribute to meeting the growing domestic demand for gas, supporting industrialization and development in several key sectors, in addition to producing significant quantities of high-value liquids.
Al-Nasser expressed his gratitude for the support, trust, and attention that Saudi Aramco receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince and prime minister, noting that this has had the most profound impact on the company’s achievements and distinguished projects that serve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The gas extracted from the Jafurah field is expected to support the Kingdom’s growth targets in key sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, major industries, and petrochemicals, potentially providing a major boost to the Kingdom’s economy and strengthening its position among the world’s top ten gas producers.
Saudi Aramco began first producing unconventional shale gas from the Jafurah field in December 2025, with technology playing a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of the Jafurah field and establishing it as a global benchmark for unconventional gas development.
Since its inception, the project has leveraged technology to help reduce drilling and stimulation costs and enhance well productivity, contributing to its strong economic prospects.
The Jafurah area covers 17,000 sq. km and is estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion barrels of condensates. The Jafurah field project aims to produce 2 billion standard cubic feet per day of sales gas, 420 million standard cubic feet per day of ethane, and approximately 630,00 barrels per day of gas liquids and condensates by 2030.
The Tanajib Gas Plant is a key pillar in Aramco’s strategy to increase gas processing capacities and diversify its energy product portfolio, helping to foster long-term economic growth.
Operations began in December 2025, and its raw gas processing capacity is expected to reach 2.6 billion standard cubic feet per day in 2026. The start of operations at the Tanajib Plant coincided with the commencement of production from the Marjan field expansion and development program.
The plant is distinguished by its digital integration, enhanced operational efficiency, capability to execute complex projects, and optimal use of resources. It processes raw gas associated with crude oil production from the offshore Marjan and Zuluf fields.
Aramco’s gas expansion is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, generating significant added value and strengthening its position as a reliable energy provider.
It also helps meet the growing demand for natural gas and enhances its supply to national industries.
The expansion strategy supports efforts aimed at achieving the optimal energy mix for local electricity generation, advancing the Kingdom’s liquid fuel displacement program, which will have a positive environmental impact, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, enhancing energy security, and contributing to building a more diversified national economy.
