BOJ Dec Minutes: Still Need Easy Money After Shrinking Covid Funding Program

— BOJ Members Also Debate Upside, Downside Risks Amid Uncertain Outlook By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members called for a continued accommodative monetary policy stance, saying the situation in Japan is different from other major economies where central banks are trying to control high inflation, the minutes of the bank’s Dec. […]

BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Sees Clearer Economic Pickup, Slight CPI Uptick

— BOJ Revises Down FY21 GDP Forecast, Upgrades FY22 Growth View — BOJ Board’s CPI Outlook for FY22, FY23 Revised Up Slightly to Just Above 1% — BOJ Vows to Continue Monetary Support Until 2% Inflation Target Achieved By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Tuesday it is maintaining its interest rate […]

BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Tweaks Covid Funding Scheme Toward Small Firms

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Friday it is ending parts of its anti-Covid special financing program aimed at supporting large firms, whose financial conditions have improved, while extending its feature of helping hard-hit small businesses, particularly those in the service sector. As expected, the BOJ decided to maintain its interest […]

PREVIEW: BOJ Dec Tankan To Show Mixed Sentiment, FY21 Capex Plans

–Sentiment Among Manufacturers Seen Flat After Recent Gains–Non-Manufacturers Likely Report Better Sentiment on Eased Covid Rules–Major Firms Expected To Revise Down Their Capex Plans–Smaller Firms Tend To Revise Up their Capex Plans Later in Fiscal Year By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan business survey is expected to show confidence among […]

Japan Nov Producer Price Rise Remains 4-Decade High on Energy, Commodities

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan continued rising from year-earlier levels, staying at a four-decade high, as global supply chain disruptions, albeit easing slightly, as well as labor shortages are pushing up energy and commodities markets, data released Friday by the Bank of Japan showed. By contrast, consumer inflation in Japan remains […]

Japan Nov Tokyo CPI Y/Y Rise Hits 16-Month High on Surging Energy, Food

— Utility Charges Following Lead of Soaring Gasoline, Heating Oil Costs— CPI Remains Under Pressure From Mobile Communication Fee Discounts By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in the core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, accelerated in November amid double-digit percentage gains in utility and fuel […]

Japan Govt Still Sees Economic Pickup But Notes Slower Exports, Output

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday maintained its economic overview but pointed to a mixed bag of data showing a pickup in consumption on eased Covid restrictions against flat exports and stalling recovery in factory output amid protracted supply bottlenecks, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. The government said […]

Japan’s October Energy-Led CPI Rise Capped by Deeper Mobile Phone Discounts

— Gasoline, Heating Oil, Utilities Costs Up Sharply Amid Rising Energy Markets — Total CPI Marks 2nd Straight Y/Y Gain; Slower on Fresh Food Price Drop — Producer Price Spike Has Limited Impact on CPI But BOJ Sees Gradual Pickup By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Core consumer prices in Japan maintained a small step upward […]

BOJ Kuroda: Current ‘Slight’ Yen Fall Beneficial for Japan’s Economy

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said Thursday that the recent depreciation of the yen has been limited in scope, and thus it is still good for Japan’s gradual economic recovery as its benefit of supporting exporter profits outweighs the cost of surging import prices. He also downplayed the risk […]

BOJ Keeps Easing Stance; Covid Risk Remains, Public Inflation Views Picking Up

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Thursday it is maintaining its stimulative policy, as expected, to support economic recovery from the pandemic-caused 2020 slump and continue guiding near-zero inflation toward its elusive 2% target. The central bank remains optimistic about the medium-term outlook for steady recovery following short-term weakness, but also […]