difference between "日欧米で株上昇" and "日米欧で株上昇"? "{}" means "the Western countries (USA, Canada, Western Europe, Australia)". "" is something that I've heard frequently in daily conversations. So, the headline caught my attention. Of course, newspapers are full of abbreviations. Here is my interpretation: "..." _Stock prices increased in Japan, the USA, and Western Europe._ "..." _Stock prices increased in Japan, the USA, Canada, Western Europe, and Australia._ Is that what is going on in the title? btw: In a conversation, could I say "" to mean "Japan and the Western countries"? Could I say "" to exclusively mean "Japan and Western Europe"?

(I don't think Australia is included in when it comes to the market, though)

is a word but either or are not a word but just three abbreviated words are put in a row and they both mean "Japan, the USA, and Europe. So, if you want to say "Japan and the Western countries", it should be , not . And, if you want to say exclusively "Japan and Western Europe" it's because includes eastern one too. Today, often sands for "Japan and EU".