Japan Week Ahead: Markets Continue to Expect BOJ Rate Hike Toward Yearend after Tankan Business Survey, Branch Managers Report Points to Resilient Economy amid Mideast Uncertainty
–May Machinery Orders Set for Pullback after April Surge but Strong Demand for Computers, AI-Linked Equipment Seen Intact By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan policymakers have received evidence this month that the domestic economy has been resilient, overcoming high fuel costs and material shortages triggered by the Middle East conflict amid the global […]
US ISM Manufacturing PMI Expands for 6th Straight Month in June but at Slower Pace as New Orders, Production Take Breather after Rising in May
–ISM’s Spence: Not Much Stockpiling During Iran War as Seen in Early Days of High US Tariffs Slapped Last Year–Spence: Still Cautious about 2026 Outlook but June, Semiannual Reports Indicate Optimism Among Firms By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the sixth straight month in June but at a slower pace than […]
Japan Week Ahead: BOJ June Quarter Tankan Business Survey to Show Mideast Conflict Dented Confidence Slightly, Pushed Up Costs for Many Sectors
–Hot Weather, Rising Stock Markets Seen Lifting Retail Sales in May, Job Creation Continues, Factory Output to Extend Monthly Gain on Export Demand By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The tentative U.S.-Iran peace agreement has led crude oil prices lower to pre-war levels, calming jitters among policymakers and investors, but Japanese households and businesses will still […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Machinery Orders Up Again on Year in April as AI Spending Boom Continues
Consensus outlook for Mace News 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Tuesday, June 16) The Cabinet Office releases April machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders -0.3% m/m (range: -2.0% to +6.5%) vs. Mar -9.4%; +9.9% y/y (range: +8.5% to +17.4%) vs. Mar +5.9% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading […]
US ISM Manufacturing PMI Expands for 5th Straight Month in May, Backed by New Orders, but Mideast Conflict Keeping Costs High
–ISM’s Spence: New Orders Up on Pent-Up Demand, Instead of Customers Stocking Up Before Iran War Causes Further Disruption–Spence: Employment in Contraction but Better in May, Elevated Prices Ease, Both in Right Direction By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the fifth straight month in May backed by a solid gain in […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Industrial Production Hit by Input Disruption from Mideast War
Friday, May 29, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 28) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases April, and the outlook for May and June. Mace News median: -1.0% m/m (range: -2.2% to -0.4%) vs. Mar. revised to -0.4% from -0.5%; +0.6% y/y (range: -0.5% to +2.3%) vs. Mar. revised to +2.4% […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Machinery Orders Falling Back in March
0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 20) The Cabinet Office releases March and January-March machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders -13.2% m/m (range: -20.0% to -3.1%) vs. Feb +13.6%; +4.5% y/y (range: -9.8% to +8.2%) vs. Feb +24.7% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of business […]
Japan Week Ahead: Q1 GDP to Show Modest Growth, March Trade Balance Set to Slip Back into Deficit, Consumer Inflation Tame
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. The first quarter GDP data is expected to show the economy has overcome a temporary contraction in the July-September quarter last year, led by sluggish but resilient consumer spending and solid business investment in digitization. The weak yen and higher […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Industrial Output Bouncing Back in March with Rising Exports
Thursday, April 30, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, Apr 29) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases March and January-March industrial production, outlook for April and May. Mace News median: +0.7% m/m (range: -1.0% to +2.5%) vs. Feb. revised to -2.0% from -2.1%; +3.0% y/y (range: +0.0% to +5.3%) vs. Feb. revised […]
Japan Week Ahead: BOJ Branch Managers Update on Regional Economies at Quarterly Meeting Ahead of April 27-28 Policy Decision
–February Household Spending Seen Sluggish amid Falling Real Wages; March Producer Inflation to Tick Up on Higher Energy Costs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week in the new fiscal year that began on April 1. Bank of Japan branch managers will provide their latest assessments of […]