BOJ March Tankan Business Sentiment Slips on Covid, Ukraine; Capex Plans Revised Down
–Fall in Sentiment After Recent Improvement Not As Bad As Forecast –Major Firms Revise Down FY21 Capex Plans, See Small Rise in FY22 –Smaller Firms Unexpectedly Revise Down FY21 Capex Plans; Cautious of FY22 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Confidence among many sectors in Japan slipped in March after improving for the sixth straight quarter […]
Japan February Retail Sales Dip on Covid Rules; Auto Sales Remain Weak on Chip Shortages 
–METI Repeats Retail Sales Are Flat After Downgrading Its View Last Month –Department Store Sales Mark 1st Y/Y Drop in 5 Months on Bad Weather, Omicron –Fuel Sales Up on Rising Energy Prices; Demand for Medicine, Cosmetic Solid By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the third straight monthly dip and the first […]
BOJ March Meeting Summary: Watch Underlying Inflation, Japan Needs Easing
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members argued sustainable inflation must come from domestic demand amid moves among firms to pass higher costs onto consumers, with one pointing to downside risks to the inflation outlook from a fallback in global commodities prices later this year, according to the summary of opinions expressed […]
Analysis: Bank of Japan to Keep Easing Stance, To Check 10-Year JGB Yield Rise Despite Yen Fall
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan is committed to maintaining its current monetary easing framework aimed at guiding low inflation toward its 2% target despite the recent rapid depreciation of the yen, which could further push up import costs amid rising food and energy costs. The BOJ on Monday resumed unlimited fixed-rate […]
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 […]