Latest news with #Vigilantes
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
'Bond vigilantes' are taking aim at Japan market ahead of critical election
The bond vigilantes are sharpening their knives, and this time the target of the fixed income crusaders could be Japan. With a crucial election looming just days away that is set to determine the course of the fiscally troubled nation, a market storm is brewing. As rates hover around record levels for Japanese government bonds, the potential for not only turbulence in yields there but across the globe is gaining investors' attention. Bond yields move inversely to their prices. "We've got an election coming up in Japan where it looks like the upper house may be taken over by those who intend to increase federal spending," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist for tax consultancy RSM US. "It's an interesting confluence of events that will impact yields across the international economy." Indeed, Japan is serving as a bit of a global microcosm while it battles issues that are both common to developed nations and unique to a country struggling with pesky inflation, a rising debt load and an unsettled political climate. JP10Y 1Y mountain Japan 10-year bond yield over the past year The situation is even raising the possibility that "bond vigilantes" are on the horizon. The term refers to fixed income buyers who suddenly go on strike when they decide that the reward for a country's sovereign debt isn't worth the risk it requires. That such a dilemma could come to Japan was once unthinkable, as the central bank holds more than half the government's debt and yield-curve control was a staple of monetary policy. However, changing dynamics, including the aforementioned inflation and debt problems along with the uncertainty associated with President Donald Trump's tariffs , have altered the investing landscape substantially. Veteran investor Ed Yardeni coined the term "bond vigilantes" in the 1980s and sees the specter of similar fixed income trouble on the horizon. In a Yardeni Research note this week, the firm cited as one of several factors spelling trouble for the Japanese bond market "the high odds that the next Japanese government turns to tax cuts and increased spending in ways that trigger the Bond Vigilantes. This pivot could have a typically calm debt market sending turbulence around the globe." All market eyes will be on Sunday's election, which will serve as a referendum on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his coalition government. Japanese long bond yields at the 30- and 40-year maturities have risen nearly one percentage point apiece over the past year, so further turmoil could start to spread if conditions remain unstable. "It's a preview of coming attractions as the U.S. has to address competing demands for scarce federal dollars which typically result in increased government spending, higher interest rates, higher yields and higher inflation," said Brusuelas, the RSM economist. "This really is at the heart of the issues across advanced economies."
The Review Geek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 1 Review – The worst possible spin-off
Season 1 Episode Guide Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 2 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 3 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 5 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 8 -| Review Score – 1/5 Episode 9 -| Review Score – 2/5 Episode 10 -| Review Score – 2/5 Episode 11 -| Review Score – 1.5/5 Episode 12 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 13 -| Review Score – 1.5/5 While My Hero Academia focuses on people studying to become the official protectors of their country, its spin-off, Vigilantes, delves into a more shadowy place. Koichi, Knuckleduster, and Pop☆Step work to protect their city without having a legal Hero License. That means not only are the villains out to get them, but also the police and professional heroes too. This leads them to a new drug, Trigger, which affects citizens' senses and makes them go berserk. Still, these 'instant-villains' appear to be mere pawns in a much bigger game. So, the vigilante group investigates the incidents while clashing and secretly collaborating with heroes. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has a good premise that can distinguish the series from the original show. However, it already fails at this most basic element. What are the differences between heroes and vigilantes? Is it only the legal issue? If so, why is it important that people have a professional license to protect others? This could go on, but it'd be pointless as the anime doesn't answer any of them. It does go a little in-depth into the history of vigilantism in one episode, which is quite interesting. However, it feels like a passing concern only. The protagonist group only clashes with heroes during one episode, and being vigilantes never actually affects them. If you didn't start watching it from episode one, you probably wouldn't even know they aren't heroes. It's a real shame the show doesn't explore what could be such an interesting dynamic. But that's only a taste of how much Vigilantes doesn't care about its premise. The Trigger drug is only a major threat for about two episodes, then it's quickly side-lined. In fact, after a while, it becomes just another unimportant element of the series. It's used for jokes, or we see the instant villains being defeated by unrelated heroes in seconds. Before even reaching the middle of the first season, the anime's two most important plot points almost completely lose their effect. How is the audience gonna find them interesting, if even the show doesn't do that? Not to mention, these villains have another problem: a lack of creativity. The drug also affects people's powers, making them more unstable and powerful. It could be the opportunity to show new sides of the powers and transformations, which are always popular among anime fans. Instead, the villains always just become a giant version of their normal selves. It's a disappointing and lazy design work. In contrast, Knuckleduster's story is handled very well. It's the best thing about MHA: Vigilantes. He doesn't have powers, making us question why he cares so much about helping people. With that alone, his views on justice already become way more interesting. And he also has an important connection to the Trigger drug, which helps keep us engaged in the plot. He brings all the action, suspense, and even emotion viewers could want from a show like this. Unfortunately, his screen time isn't long enough to save the whole series. However, more unfortunate than that is knowing we can't say the same thing about the other main characters. Koichi and Pop don't need the same amount of development, as the show can focus on them in later seasons. Still, it barely establishes anything about them besides basic personality traits. Koichi is the protagonist, but he has almost no highlights in this season. To say more, if you excluded him from the plot, the most important points of the story would still play out similarly. He wants to be a hero more than anything and has a pure desire to help people. In the first few episodes, we see the lengths he would go to prove that. However, he never goes that far again and becomes sort of a comic relief. Meanwhile, Pop☆Step has no reason to even be there, and the anime can't convince you she has one. There's one episode in which the citizens talk about each vigilante, and every one of them reduces her to her body or having a revealing outfit (quick reminder that she's about 14, which makes it even worse). Anime often has problems creating a good female character for trios, and this is true for Vigilantes. However, unlike Naruto or Attack on Titan, only one member of the team can be seen as well-written. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has potential, but it seems it refuses to do anything interesting with it. So, we end up with just another forgettable spin-off that fails at almost everything.
Pink Villa
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 8 Introduces Captain Celebrity—Recap, Release Date, Where To Stream And More
In 'Makoto/Truth,' Makoto Tsukauchi offers Koichi academic help and visits his penthouse, where she lectures him and Pop on vigilante history. She explains her research into Naruhata's Vigilantes and recruits Koichi's help. Later, she discusses the risks with her brother, Detective Tsukauchi. Koichi impresses Knuckleduster with improved moves, though Pop is irritated by Makoto. Public interviews reveal mixed opinions about the vigilantes. After Makoto's laptop is stolen, Koichi pursues the thief, though Jube and Ichimoku stop him. Makoto uses her Polygraph Quirk on Koichi, which he passes, baffling her. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 8 will feature the arrival of a top-ranked American Pro Hero known as Playboy Hero: Captain Celebrity. He is known for his flashy behavior and womanizing reputation. Captain Celebrity will rescue Koichi from danger this episode and will immediately annoy Koichi with his egotistical approach and prioritization of media attention over proper hero conduct. Captain Celebrity will also approach Makoto in a friendly, possibly flirtatious manner, creating further tension with Koichi. As the boy observes the contrast between genuine heroism and celebrity image, new personal and social challenges will begin to surface around the foreign hero's presence. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 8, titled 'Major,' is scheduled to premiere in Japan on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 11 pm JST. Due to global time zone differences, international viewers can expect it around 2 pm GMT / 7 am PT / 10 am ET, though exact times may differ slightly by region. In Japan, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 8 will air on Tokyo MX, BS NTV, and Yomiuri TV, with streaming options including ABEMA, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. Internationally, Crunchyroll will provide access with English subtitles. For more updates from the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes anime, stay tuned to Pinkvilla. *The release dates and times provided are accurate at the time of writing and are subject to change at the discretion of the creators.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
My Hero Academia Vigilantes– Episode 4 challenges Koichi's illegal hero path
My Hero Academia Vigilantes– Episode 4 challenges Koichi's illegal hero path (credit- IMDb) My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a prequel spin-off to the hit anime My Hero Academia. But this time, the spotlight isn't on Deku or Bakugo it's on Koichi, a college student with a small mobility quirk who uses it to save lives. In a world where using a quirk without a hero license is illegal, Koichi becomes a vigilante, someone doing good while breaking the law. His story asks a powerful question: Can you be a hero if society says you're not? Vigilantes Episode 4 Ingenium guides koichi during villain attack Episode 4 of Vigilantes slows down after last week's intense setup. A drug that dangerously boosts quirks is still spreading across the city, but instead of a big fight, this episode focuses on quiet character moments. One standout is the return of Tensei Iida, also known as Ingenium, the pro hero and older brother of Tenya Iida from the main series. He hasn't had much screen time in My Hero Academia, so seeing him here is a treat especially for fans who know his tragic fate. Tensei joins Koichi during a villain attack and gives advice on using his quirk more effectively. It briefly feels like a big turning point; maybe Tensei will offer Koichi a spot at his hero agency. But instead, he just says Koichi is 'right where he belongs.' That moment could've gone deeper. Why can't vigilantes like Koichi join the pro system? Why is saving lives still considered illegal? Koichi keeps breaking hero law Throughout the episode, Koichi continues saving people in public, rarely hiding his identity. In a world with strict hero laws, this feels unrealistic. There's no real danger of arrest, no chase from the Hero Commission, and no moral pressure. This could be a major source of tension. Should Koichi stop and wait until he can go legal? Or should he risk everything to help others now? Episode 4 skips over that conflict, making the 'vigilante' label feel more like a title than a real issue. Knuckleduster's dark side grows stronger The most intense scenes in Episode 4 come from Knuckleduster, Koichi's rough mentor. He's reckless, possibly traumatized, and always on edge. His brief scenes add tension and mystery to an otherwise quiet episode. Voice actor Jason Marnocha continues to shine in the English dub, making Knuckleduster sound like a man with nothing to lose. He's not just a fighter, he's someone broken, maybe even dangerous. Fans are hoping for a bigger focus on his backstory soon. Vigilantes Episode 4 – Drug villain returns, stakes still low Meanwhile, the bee-themed villain reappears. She's working with a hidden supplier, trying to spread the quirk-enhancing drug more carefully. Her dialogue feels like something from the League of Villains, but no direct connection has been made yet. And since none of these drug dealers show up in the main timeline, it's still unclear how this story fits into the bigger My Hero Academia world. Episode 4 delivers emotional character moments, especially with Ingenium and Knuckleduster. But the story doesn't push Koichi's illegal status hard enough. Without real consequences or internal struggle, his 'vigilante' role lacks weight. The show may be building to something bigger but for now, the pacing feels slow, and the tension remains low. Fans of My Hero Academia may enjoy the extra character depth, but they're still waiting for that big moment.
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Why did Trump pause the tariffs? The bond market rebelled — here's what that means.
Even as stocks plunged in reaction to his administration's sweeping tariffs, President Trump expressed confidence in his trade policies, saying last week that "markets are going to boom." But by Wednesday, a collective thumb's down to the tariffs by bond investors had given Mr. Trump pause. With U.S. and global financial market tumbling, he abruptly suspended his administration's "reciprocal tariffs" on dozens of other countries for 90 days, acknowledging that the bond market was "getting a little queasy." Mr. Trump's about-face was by no means the first time a sitting American president had blinked in the face of bond investors expressing alarm over U.S. policies they viewed as fiscally reckless and harmful to their portfolios. In their first terms, both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also found themselves knocked back when the bond market rebelled at the cost of some of their strategic priorities. Americans might think of bonds as a less risky asset class they turn to in their 401(k)s to offset more volatile investments, such as stock. But the $2.8 trillion Treasury market is also a bedrock of the U.S. government. The federal government finances the country's debt by selling Treasury bills to investors, who prize the asset because of the country's sterling credit rating and its guarantee of making good on interest payments. As the Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs went into effect on Wednesday, the bond prices slid and the yield on 2-year Treasury notes rose by as much as 0.3 percentage points, marking the biggest intraday move since 2009, according to financial data firm FactSet (Bond prices move in inverse relation to their interest rates, or yields.) Such sudden moves can signal that investors are dumping their bonds. That pushes bond prices lower but increase yields, which are the returns that bond holders pay to investors. "Why is this happening? Fixed-income investors may be starting to worry that the Chinese and other foreigners might start selling their U.S. Treasuries," economist Ed Yardeni said in an April 8 research note. Yardeni, who coined the term "bond vigilantes" in the 1980s to describe fixed-income investors who express their disapproval of government policies by dumping Treasuries, added that the bond market was cautioning that "the Trump administration may be playing with liquid nitro." In another report after Mr. Trump announced the tariff pause, Yardeni noted, "The Bond Vigilantes have struck again. As far as we can tell, at least with respect to U.S. financial markets, they are the only 1.000 hitters in history." Some Trump administration officials acknowledged that the bond market's hostile reaction to the tariffs influenced the decision to pause the tariffs. "[T] bond market was telling us, 'Hey, it is probably time to move'," White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on CNBC on Thursday. Soon after Mr. Trump announced his April 2 tariffs, economists raised concerns about the potential impact of Mr. Trump's tariffs. The president claimed the tariffs, which he called "reciprocal" because they were aimed at equalizing the trade barriers between the U.S. and its trading partners, would help revive manufacturing to the U.S. and raise revenue for the federal government. But experts warned that the tariffs, which ranged from a baseline 10% for most nations up to more than 100% for Chinese imports, raised the risks of a recession and would likely reignite inflation. Investors dumped stocks and bonds as they digested the economic risks of Mr. Trump's tariff barrage. While the stock market plunge hurt millions of Americans' retirement savings, the turmoil in the bond market creates very real pressures on the nation's finances. Because the Treasury Department pays interest to debt holders, any increase in yields puts more financial strain on the nation's coffers. "Developments in the last 24 hours suggest we may be headed for serious financial crisis wholly induced by U.S. government tariff policy," Harvard University economist and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said in an April 9 thread on social media. He added, "Long-term interest rates are gapping up, even as the stock market moves sharply downwards. This highly unusual pattern suggests a generalized aversion to U.S. assets in global financial markets. We are being treated by global financial markets like a problematic emerging market." Given the size of the Treasury market, the surging bond yields and broader market turmoil could create an expensive problem for the federal government. For Mr. Trump, the timing was especially poor as he pushes Congress to pass an extension of his 2017 tax cuts, which are forecast to cost trillions over the next decade. In 2024, the U.S. spent more than $1 trillion to service its debt, more than double its roughly $500 billion in 2020, according to Treasury data . That's largely due to higher interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve to battle the post-pandemic surge in inflation. An increase in bond yields could add to that expense, putting even more pressure on the federal budget. "Although President Donald Trump was able to resist the stock market selloff, once the bond market began to weaken, too, it was only a matter of time before he folded on his eye-wateringly high tariffs," noted economist Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics in an April 9 research note.
