US ISM Services Sector Afloat over Optimism for Better Business in 2026 but AI Boom Causing Capacity Concerns; Overall Cost Pressures Remain High
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The U.S. services sector posted a 19th straight month of expansion in January on general optimism that things will turn around in 2026 in the aftermath of Trump tariff storms but the pace of activity was flat on the month as data center expansion is causing capacity concerns and rising […]
Japan Week Ahead: Lower House Election Campaign Underway Before Feb. 8 Vote as PM Takaichi Seeks Dual Fiscal Mandate, Stable Dollar/Yen
–December Factory Output to Show Slight Dip but Solid Q4, Sign for GDP Rebound; January Tokyo CPI Seen Tamer on Energy Price Drop, Erasing Food Pressures By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Currency traders are on alert for a possible market intervention by the Ministry of […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Exports Up 2.6% on Year in November with Boost from Weak Yen
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 20250850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Tuesday, Dec. 16) The Ministry of Finance releases November trade.Mace News median: exports +2.6% y/y (range: +0.4% to +5.0%) vs. Oct. +3.6%; imports +0.5% y/y (range: -1.4% to +3.9%) vs. Oct +0.7%; trade surplus ¥47.60 billion (range: a deficit of ¥17.00 billion to a surplus of ¥128.30 […]
Japan Weekahead: Government Likely to Keep Modest Economic Recovery View, Another BOJ Board Member Speaks amid Rate Hike Expectations
–US Tariffs Seen Denting Factory Output, Retail Sales Remain Weak By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. In the final quarter of 2025, the drag from the protectionist U.S. trade policy is becoming more pronounced in some data including international trade, compared to the previous quarter. […]
UPDATE: Japan Weekahead: October Exports Seen Up but Sluggish, Academic Type BOJ Board Member Koeda to Make Debut Speech Before December Meeting
–MOF has made a rare change to its trade statistics release date, citing the need to ensure the accuracy of the latest figures after finding that it failed to move parts of collected data over to a new customs computer system on Oct. 12. By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic […]
Japan Keeps Economic Recovery Outlook as US Trade Deal, Easing Inflation Lift Mood but Export Volumes, Manufacturer Profits Sink on US Auto Tariffs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan is keeping its modest economic recovery scenario as a trade deal with Washington and easing inflation have perked up confidence but U.S. import duties, still much higher than pre-Trump norms, have triggered export volumes to slump in August and manufacturer profits to dip in the April-June quarter. In […]
Report: Japan, U.S. Mull Possible Trump Visit to Tokyo in Late October
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan and the United States are in talks over a possible visit by President Donald Trump to Tokyo in October, ahead of his planned trip to South Korea for an international summit, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. The visit would mark the first in-person meeting between Trump and the […]
US TARIFFS STATE OF PLAY – Punishing 50% Tariff on India Products Takes Effect; Online Shoppers to be Hit With Tariffs Friday
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – There was no last-minute reprieve for India, as of midnight ET hit with one of the highest tariff rates in the world. The implementation of a 50% rate shuts off most trade with the U.S. and there have been many accounts of sectors of the Indian economy already feeling the severe effect. […]
Japan Weekahead: Factory Output to Slip Back amid Lingering Trade Woes; Retail Sales Sluggish on Waning Inbound Spending Magic, Front-Loaded Air Conditioner Demand
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. The world trade uncertainty has been reduced somewhat by accords between Washington and some U.S. allies, except for Canada, but President Trump’s erratic policymaking is leaving firms wary of making plans. Trump tariffs are taking their toll on Japanese […]
Japan Weekahead: Export Values Set to Post 3rd Straight Y/Y Drop as Trump Tariffs Forcing Carmakers to Cut Prices for US Customers; Inflation to Ease Further on Fuel Subsidies
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. President Trump’s high import duties have prompted Toyota and other carmakers to trim sales prices for U.S. buyers in a bid to protect their market share in the world’s largest economy. This has led to a fall in overall […]