Reuters exclusively reports Japan bank regulator surveying impact of coronavirus restrictions on local economies

Japan’s banking regulator is surveying regional lenders on how local businesses are coping with new restrictions to contain COVID-19, as it seeks to forestall a spike in bankruptcies, sources told Reuters. While policymakers stress Japan’s banking system remains stable as a whole, the survey by the Financial Services Agency underscores concern over the prolonged and widening damage the coronavirus pandemic is inflicting on companies and banks.