BOJ Q3 Tankan Business Sentiment: Manufacturers Weaker, Services Up
–Manufacturers Cautious Amid Dimmer Global Growth Outlook –Services Upbeat as Govt Refrains from Imposing Strict Covid Rules –Business Confidence Seen Mostly Lower in December Amid Uncertainty –Firms, Large and Small, Further Revise Up Their Combined FY22 Capex Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Confidence among major manufacturers in Japan unexpectedly slipped for the third straight […]
Japan MOF Data Shows Large Y2.84 Trln Yen-Buying Intervention on Sept. 22, First in 24 Years
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s yen-buying operation conducted on Sept. 22 to keep lopsided market forces from weakening the yen further against the dollar, totaled a large Y2.838 trillion ($20.3 billion), according to monthly data released Friday by the Ministry of Finance for the period from August 30 through September 28. The intervention, the […]
Japan’s Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Pickup Amid Global Tightening, High Costs, Weak Yen 
Japan August Retail Sales Post 6th Straight Y/Y Gain as Economy Reopens Despite Covid Spike
–METI Repeats Retail Sales Picking Up Gradually –Department Store Sales Continue Recovering on Eased Covid Rules –Sales of Cars, Appliances Remain Weak; Demand for Cosmetics, Drugs Strong By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted their sixth year-on-year rise in August, led by high fuel prices and solid demand for summer clothing, cosmetics and […]
Japan August Jobless Rate Eases Slightly to 2.5% as Government Reopens Economy Amid Covid Spike
–Unemployment at 2.6% from May to July Vs. April’s 2-Year Low 2.5% –Job Losses Flat M/M in August While Fewer People Seek Other Openings –Employment Picks Up After Posting 1st Y/Y Drop in 4 months in July –Number of Unemployed Marks 14th Straight Y/Y Drop; Still Above January 2020 Level By Max Sato (MaceNews) – […]
Preview: BOJ Tankan Manufacturers’ Sentiment Seen Up in September, Services Down
–End to Covid Lockdown in Shanghai Supports Factory Operations –Downside Risks Arise from Global Slowdown amid Tightening by US, Others –Spike in Japan Covid Cases, High Import Costs Hit Services Sector –Business Confidence in December Projected to Be Mixed –Smaller Firms Expected to Revise Up Their Combined FY22 Capex Plans Further By Max […]
Japan Intervenes in Forex Market to Stop One-Sided, Rapid Yen Fall
–Finance Minister Suzuki Says Govt Steps in To Stem Speculative Move –MOF Suzuki: To Take Necessary Steps on Excessive Fluctuations –BOJ Kuroda: No Need to Change Basic Yield Curve Control Easing Guideline for 2 to 3 Years –BOJ Kuroda Before Intervention: YCC Designed to Correct Tight Yen Funds in Event of Yen-Buying FX Operations –BOJ […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance Under Yield Curve Control in Unprecedented Unanimous Vote as Two Members Switch
–Japan’s Central Bank to Phase Out Special Covid Funding Program as Reopening Progresses–BOJ Sees Economy Picking Up but Warns of Downward Pressure from Commodity Market Rise By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Thursday it is maintaining its zero to slightly negative interest rate targets along the yield curve and large asset […]
Japan Seeking to Keep Yen Bears at Bay with Threat of Forex Intervention
–Tokyo Would Need Washington’s Consent and Help to Have Much Impact -US Has No Compelling Reason Yet to Step into FX Market–Japan’s Dollar Selling Ammunition Limited to Its Foreign Reserves By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese policymakers are using verbal warnings and inquiries on market levels to stop the yen from depreciating rapidly against the […]
Japan July Machine Orders Unexpectedly Jump but Flat in 3-Month Average
–Japan Capex Demand Solid, Leading Upward Revision to Q2 GDP Growth–Japan July Core Orders’ Value Hit 3-Year High, Led by Non-Manufacturers–Japan Govt Keeps View: Machine Orders Showing Signs of Pickup–Cabinet Office Official: Machine Orders Not So Strong Yet to Prompt View Upgrade By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of […]