<strong>Analysis: Japan PM Kishida Seeking Monetary Policy Balance Between Continuity and Gradual Shift from Abenomics</strong>
–Reports Say Kishida Picks Academic Kazuo Ueda to Succeed Kuroda By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida appears to have picked an academic candidate with some policymaking experience to replace retiring Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda in a surprise choice that could prompt a gradual departure from the decade-old reflationary Abenomics […]
<strong>BOJ January Meeting Summary: Economy Still Needs Easy Policy Support for Sustainable Wage Growth</strong>
–Members Agree Cost-Push Price Pressures to Wane in FY23, Need Demand-Pull Inflation for Price Stability –Members See Need to Assess Costs and Benefits of Super-Low Interest Rates in Future but Not Now By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members agreed that the economy still needs very accommodative monetary policy support for sustainable […]
<strong>BOJ Keeps Easing Stance Amid Slowing Global Growth, Expects Cost-Push Inflation to Lose Steam in FY23</strong>
–Board Sees 3% Core CPI Rise in FY22 to Slow to 1.6% in FY23, 1.8% in FY24 –Board Revises Down GDP Forecasts to 1.9% in FY22, 1.7% in FY23, 1.1% in FY24 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Wednesday its policy board decided unanimously to maintain its basic monetary easing stance, […]
Japan December Producer Inflation Remains Elevated as Utilities Up Over 50% Y/Y, Steel, Paper Still Costly
By Max Sato –Annual Rate +10.3% in September 2022 Remains Highest in 41 Years–Weak Yen Continues Boosting Import Costs for Producers but at Slower Pace Amid Recent Dollar Pullback (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan popped above 10% in December as utility charges stood over 50% above year-earlier levels and firms continued passing higher costs […]
<strong>BOJ December Meeting Summary: Must Keep Easing Stance to Help Wage Hikes, Stable 2% Inflation</strong>
–Concerned About Weakened Bond Market Functions, Board Members Argue for Expanding JGB Yield Trading Range –Members See JGB Range Adjustment as Not Tightening –Members Also Discuss Eventual Exit from Easing in Future with No Specifics By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members argued that the bank should maintain its easing stance to […]
<strong>BOJ Keeps Basic Easing Stance, Expands 10-Year JGB Trading Range to 0.5 Pct Point Around Zero from 0.25 Point</strong>
–BOJ Sees Current Spike in Core CPI to Ease Toward Mid-FY23 on Easing Effects of Energy, Food, Durable Goods Markups By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Tuesday its policy board decided unanimously to allow the yield on the 10-year Japanese government bonds to rise to 0.5% from the current cap of […]
<strong>Preview: BOJ December Tankan Manufacturers Sentiment Seen Down Further, Services Up on Tourism Promotion</strong>
–Govt’s New Travel Discount Program Supporting Consumer Spending –Businesses Seen Cautious About Climate in March Amid Global Slowdown –Smaller Firms Expected to Continue Revising Up Combined FY22 Capex Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan business survey is expected to show confidence among major manufacturers in Japan drifted lower for […]
<strong>Japan October Household Spending Posts 5th Straight Y/Y Rise; Keeps M/M Gain Despite Signs of 8th Covid Wave </strong>
–Spending on Traveling, Dining Out Stays Above Year-Earlier Levels on Reopening Economy –Real Household Income Dip; Real Wages Down Amid Widespread Retail Price Hikes By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted the fifth straight year-on-year rise in October and maintained a gain on the month as people continued to eat out, shop […]
Preview: Japan Q3 GDP to Post 4th Straight Quarterly Growth; Pace Slower on Covid Spike, High Prices
–Modest Q3 Growth Seen Led by Solid Capex Demand, No Strict Public Health Rules –Net Exports Seen Down amid Global Slowdown, Rising Import Costs –Q4 GDP Growth Likely Backed by Govt Subsidies for Tourism, Eased Border Restrictions By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the July-September quarter is forecast by economists […]
BOJ October Meeting Summary: Keep Easing Stance for 2% Inflation; Watch Markets, Side Effects of Easing
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members agreed that the bank should maintain its easing stance to ensure stable 2% inflation would be achieved with wage increases — even though high import costs are being aggravated by the weak yen, which partly reflects the BOJ’s dovish stance while the Federal Reserve plans […]