Japan Govt Continues to See Modest Economic Recovery on Sustained Wage Hike Prospects, Brighter Consumer Sentiment amid Easing Inflation
By Max Sato –Japan Downgrades View on World Economy For 1st Time In 8 Months Amid Weaker Chinese Data, Uncertainty Over US Trade Policy–Bank of Japan Expected to Stand Pat for Now, on Gradual Normalization Path After 25-bp Policy Rate Hike to 30-Year High of 0.75% in December (MaceNews) – Japanese government policymakers repeated their […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi’s LDP Faces Tough Headwinds from New Opposition Force in Upcoming General Elections; Economic Data to Show Export Resilience, Easing Inflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday evening (in the early hours of Monday, Jan. 19 in the Eastern time zone) to officially announce that she will call a snap election at the start […]
Japan November Household Spending Posts Unexpected Rebound on Autos in Routine Data Sample Shuffle, More Shopping Days, Winter Clothing Needs
–Many Remain Frugal Amid High Costs of Living, Trimming Gift Money and Switching to More Affordable Mobile Phone Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted an unexpected rebound in November, up a decent 2.9% on year (vs. consensus -1.4%), led mainly by a jump in automobile purchases due to a routine […]
Japan Week Ahead: Stocks Ending 2025 on High Note, Bond Yields Up on BOJ Rate Hike Outlook but Yen Remains Depressed
–PM Takaichi Keeps High Approval Ratings but Faces Challenges as Beijing Reacts to Her Taiwan Remarks By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming two weeks. Japanese markets are closed for yearend and New Year’s holidays from Wednesday, Dec. 31 until Friday, Jan. 2. Trading will resume on […]
Japan Week Ahead: Inflation Easing Toward Bank of Japan’s 2% Target; Factory Output to Slip Back but Has Firm Undertone, Bucking US Tariff Damper
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week following the Bank of Japan board’s unanimous decision to raise the overnight interest rate target by 25 basis points to a 30-year high of 0.75% in light of easing uncertainties over global trade rows initiated by the Trump administration. […]
Japan Govt Sticks to Modest Recovery Outlook as Exports Weather Trump Tariff Storms; BOJ Hikes Rates on Easing Trade Uncertainties, Vows to Raise More
–BOJ Governor Ueda: Policy Rate at 0.75% After Latest 25-Bp Hike Still ‘Slightly Below’ Estimated Neutral Rate By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese government policymakers are holding on to their conviction that the economy will stay on a modest recovery track as the latest trade data showed a rebound in exports to the key U.S. […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Investor Optimism High in December on ‘Run-it-Hot’ Macro and Policy Expectations
–Macro-optimism Highest Since August 2021 –Expectation For Higher Bond Yields Highest Since April 2022 by Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investor optimism was high in December, driven by “’run-it-hot’ macro and policy expectations,” according to the latest BoA Global Fund Managers survey, released Tuesday. This month, a net 18% of those polled looked […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Core CPI +3.0% for November, Well Above 2% BOJ Target
Consensus outlook for Mace NewsFriday, Dec. 19, 20250830 JST (2330 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Dec. 18) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases November CPIMace News median: total CPI +2.9% y/y (range: +2.8% to +3.0%) vs. Oct +3.0%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +3.0% y/y (range: +2.8% to +3.1%) vs. Oct +3.0%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, […]
Update: Japan Week Ahead: Bank of Japan Set to Hike Rates amid Easing Uncertainty over Trade Rows, Focus on Governor Ueda Remarks on Estimated Neutral Rate
–Adds Context to Economy Watchers Survey in Paragraphs 15-17 (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week, with the market focus on what the governor of the Bank of Japan will say about a widely expected interest rate hike and how much more the bank should lift the overnight rate […]
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 […]