[Japan to Strengthen Review of Loans by Banks to Overseas Non-Bank Lending Institutions] Golden Finance reported on September 6, citing Nikkei News, that the Financial Services Agency of Japan will review whether Japanese financial institutions have adequately assessed the credit risks associated with lending to overseas non-bank lending institutions and real estate companies. This initiative will be incorporated into the agency's annual strategic priority plan draft, which is set to be finalized in June next year. The overseas non-bank lending business of Japan's major banks is expanding, as so-called non-bank financial intermediaries are growing globally and increasingly obtaining financing from Japanese banks. In the real estate sector, property prices in major metropolitan areas continue to soar, prompting regional banks and other financial institutions to increase related loans. The Financial Services Agency believes it is necessary to further scrutinize these credit risks. Additionally, the agency will focus on reviewing investment and lending policies, project evaluations, and risk management for facilities such as data centers. (Jin10)