More Japan firms expect profit growth despite Iran war uncertainty: Reuters poll

The conflict, which has killed thousands of people across the Middle East, has created the biggest-ever oil supply disruption as maritime traffic has halted in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported. The survey found 76 per cent of respondents forecast the yen will trade between 150-160 yen to the dollar in the new business year, and 19 per cent expect the Japanese currency to be firmer at 140-150 yen. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange's three-year-old guidance urging listed firms to focus on their share prices and engage actively with investors, 53 per cent of respondents deemed the request appropriate while 17 per cent considered it inappropriate and 21 per cent expect it would have some side effects, the survey showed.