ANALYSIS UPDATE: Japan PM Kishida Inherits Thorny Economic, Social Change Targets
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is facing the same tough economic and social challenges that his predecessors tackled or created, leaving him no choice but to draw up longer-term plans to embark on a fundamental change. The soft-spoken former foreign minister, who leads the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, has […]
FACT SHEET: THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION’S NEW APPROACH TO THE U.S. – CHINA TRADE RELATIONSHIP
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is a fact sheet issued by the U.S. Trade Representatives Office and the White House, summarizing the comments by USTR Katherine Tai Monday in an appearance at the Washington think tank CSIS: Joe Biden ran for president on a promise to restore the backbone of this country, the middle class. […]
BOJ Sept Key Tankan Business Sentiment Up But Outlook Uncertain
— Higher Energy, Commodities Markets Support Some Producers— Automakers Report Worse Sentiment As Supply Constrains Linger— Face-To-Face Service Providers Suffer Amid Covid-19 Spike— BOJ Survey Also Shows Companies Revise Up FY21 Capex Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Higher energy and commodities prices this year further boosted confidence among many manufacturers, big and small, while […]
Japan Aug Factory Output Slumps as Global Supply Chain Disruptions Continue 
— Japan’s METI Downgrades View: Factory Output Pausing Vs. Picking Up –METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted an unexpectedly large decline in August as pandemic-caused lockdowns in Southeast Asia are straining parts supplies further and global semiconductor shortages lingered, preliminary data […]
MaceNewsViews: Commentary – Even With a Prisoner Exchange, China Seen as Heavy-Handed
By Eric Ham WASHNGTON (MaceNews) – Now that China has completed a prisoner exchange with Canada and the United States with high-stakes trade and economic ramifications, its international reputation as heavy-handed and clumsy has not necessarily been improved. Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor landed in Calgary, Alberta early Saturday in exchange for Meng Wanzhou, […]
MaceNewsViews: Commentary – Sorry, Europe, the US – and China – Won’t Let You Sit This One Out
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The German federal election proceeds as if the choices don’t matter all that much. Regardless of the personalities a relatively centrist coalition will finally endeavor to strike the path ahead, in Germany’s case, a path of least resistance – as long as it can. Climate, stability, prosperity. Chances are, […]
Japan Aug Core CPI Flat Y/Y After Year-Long Drop; Energy Pickup Slows
— Total CPI Marks 11th Straight Y/Y Drop As Fresh Vegetable Prices Slump — Downward Pressure From Low Cost Mobile Phone Plans Intensifies By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Higher costs for energy and processed food continued easing the downward pressure on Japan’s core consumer prices, which was flat on year in August after a year-long […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Sees Resilient Japan Economic Pickup Amid Pandemic
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Wednesday it is maintaining its stimulative policy, as expected, to support a gradual recovery from the pandemic-caused slump and continue its eight-year-old campaign to guide low inflation toward stable 2%. The central bank largely left its view on Japan’s resilient economic pickup amid the pandemic […]
Japan Govt Sees Slower Economic Pickup Amid Disrupted Supply Chains, Pandemic Spike
— Consumption, Factory Output Downgraded While Exports on Track By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday provided a more cautious view of the recent pickup in the domestic economy, saying its pace is slowing in the face of global supply chain disruptions and a surge in coronavirus cases, according to its monthly report released […]
Japan Aug Export Rise Slows; Trade Deficit on Energy, Vaccine Import Surge
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports continued rising at a double-digit rate on year in August after the pandemic-triggered 2020 slump, but their momentum lost steam amid global supply chain disruptions and rising Covid-19 cases, data released Thursday by the Ministry of Finance showed. Demand for Japanese iron and steel as well as semiconductor-producing […]