BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey:  Global Investors Increase Cash Holdings In December In Anticipation of World Central Bank Tightening in 2022

–On Average, Investors Expect Fed Taper to End by April 2022 By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors increased their cash holdings in December, wary of putting new monies to work ahead of expected world central bank tightening in 2022, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released […]

Japan Oct Machine Orders Rebound On Eased Supply Delays, Covid Rules

–Japan Govt Keeps View: Pickup in Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, posted a solid rebound in October amid signs of a slight easing in delayed parts supply from Southeast Asia and relaxed Covid restrictions on business hours and public events […]

BOJ Dec Tankan Business Sentiment Mixed; Capex Plans Cautious

–Sentiment Among Major Manufactures Flat After Recent Gains –Non-Manufacturers Report Better Conditions on Eased Covid Rules –Major Firms Revise Down Capex Plans From Sept But Still Up From FY20 –Smaller Firms’ Capex Plan Upward Revision Smaller Than Expected By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Confidence among major manufacturers in Japan was unchanged in December from September […]

PREVIEW: BOJ Dec Tankan To Show Mixed Sentiment, FY21 Capex Plans

–Sentiment Among Manufacturers Seen Flat After Recent Gains–Non-Manufacturers Likely Report Better Sentiment on Eased Covid Rules–Major Firms Expected To Revise Down Their Capex Plans–Smaller Firms Tend To Revise Up their Capex Plans Later in Fiscal Year By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan business survey is expected to show confidence among […]

Japan Nov Producer Price Rise Remains 4-Decade High on Energy, Commodities

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan continued rising from year-earlier levels, staying at a four-decade high, as global supply chain disruptions, albeit easing slightly, as well as labor shortages are pushing up energy and commodities markets, data released Friday by the Bank of Japan showed. By contrast, consumer inflation in Japan remains […]

Japan Q3 GDP Slump Revised Down on Weaker Consumption, Exports

— Q4 GDP Rebound Expected Amid Uncertainty Over Covid Impact By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic contraction in July-September quarter was revised down sharply as consumer spending and net exports turned out to be weaker than previously estimated and a buildup in private-sector inventories was lower than thought, more than offsetting an upward revision […]

Japan Oct Household Spending Dip Slows on Eased Covid Restrictions

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending posted the third straight year-on-year drop in October but the pace of decline decelerated from September as the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The number of new Covid-19 cases […]

Japan Oct Factory Output Shows Modest Rebound on Easing Supply Bottlenecks

— METI Keeps View After Recent Downgrade: Factory Output Pausing— METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted a modest rebound in October amid easing disruptions of parts supply from Southeast Asia, which has forced automakers and other firms to reduce factory operations […]

Japan Oct Unemployment Edged Down to 7-Month Low But Job Growth Slows

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Japanese labor market showed a mixed picture in October as the unemployment rate improved slightly to a seven-month low while job growth continued slowing at the same time, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The seasonally adjusted average unemployment rate in Japan fell […]

Japan Oct Retail Sales Rebound on Fuel Price Spike, Eased Covid Restrictions

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the first year-on-year rise in three months in October as fuel prices continued going up and the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. The METI maintained its assessment that […]