Japan February Unemployment Slips to 2.7% But Job Creation Slow
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Job creation in Japan remained sluggish in February compared to a year earlier but the unemployment rate fell from January as job cuts eased and fewer people began looking for work, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The seasonally adjusted average unemployment rate fell […]
Preview: BOJ March Tankan To Show Sentiment Hit by Omicron Spike, Ukraine War
–Sentiment Among Manufacturers, Non-Manufacturers Seen Down After Recent Pickup –Small Business Sentiment Indexes Expected to Remain in Negative Territory –Major Firms Expected to Revise Down FY21 Capex Plans, See Small FY22 Gain –Smaller Firms Playing Catchup in FY21 Capex as They Tend To Do Toward Fiscal Yearend By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of […]
<strong>Japan Govt Sees Economic Pickup Signs, Warns of Downside Risks from Inflation, Markets, War </strong>
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Friday maintained its overview that the economy is showing signs of a pickup amid some soft spots as Covid cases appear to have peaked, but also warned that rising prices, volatile financial markets, and the war in Ukraine could heighten downside risks, according to its monthly report released […]
BOJ January Meeting Minutes: Must See Underlying CPI Trend Amid Pickup on Rising Costs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan policy board members argued that the central bank must capture the underlying trend in consumer inflation, with a focus on slow wage hikes, even though its annual rate may come close to the bank’s 2% target temporarily as energy and commodities prices rise and the base effects […]
Japan’s Eastern Areas Face Power Shortages After Quake Amid Winter Weather
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Japanese government issued a rare warning of power shortages in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, urging businesses and households to cut electricity use by 10%, starting Tuesday, as heating demand is rising and supply is falling after last week’s major earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency is forecasting cold weather with […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, To Trim Commercial Paper, Corporate Bond Buying to Pre-Pandemic Levels
–BOJ Vows to Keep Monetary Support Until 2% Inflation Achieved –Japan Economy Likely to Recover Despite Surging Commodities Prices –‘Extremely High Uncertainties’ Over Ukraine Impact on Japan Via Prices, Markets, Global Demand By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Friday it is maintaining its interest rate targets and main asset purchase program […]
Japan February CPI Back on Gradual Rising Path, Led by Energy, Food
–Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 6th Straight Y/Y Gains –Utilities Continue Pushing Up Energy; Durable Goods on Downtrend –Hotel Fees Pick Up in February After Base Effects Fade in January –CPI Could Come Under Pressure Again If Govt Resumes Travel Subsidies By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Core and total consumer prices in Japan […]
Analysis: Japan PM Kishida to Face Bad Economic News After Omicron Storm
–Economists Revise Down Forecasts to Show Slight Contraction in 1Q By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to face bad news on the economic front after barely surviving voter frustration over public health restrictions imposed about two months ago aimed at fighting a surge in Covid infections caused by the […]
Strong Earthquake Hits Northeastern Japan, Causing Power Cuts
–Tokyo Electric Monitoring Spent Nuclear Fuel Facilities in Fukushima (MaceNews) – A powerful earthquake shook the northeastern Tohoku region in Japan late on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings along the Pacific coast of Miyagi and Fukushima, two prefectures hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. The 7.3 magnitude tremor struck 60 km below the […]
Japan February Exports Post 12th Straight Y/Y Rise After Slower January Growth
–Imports Up on Rising Energy Prices, Leading to 7th Straight Trade Deficit –Exports to China Rebound After Irregular Shipments Around Lunar New Year –Auto Exports Rebound Amid Lingering Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports rose from a year earlier for the 12th straight month in February, picking up from slower growth in […]