JAPAN DEC CPI DROPS FURTHER ON LOWER ENERGY COSTS; HOTEL FEE DROP EASES AMID PANDEMIC
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese consumer prices posted a slightly sharper drop in December as energy costs continued falling. But a spike in coronavirus cases later in the month appeared to have slowed the use of the government-financed hefty discounts on hotel and transport charges, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication […]
BOJ KEEPS EASING POLICY STANCE AMID PANDEMIC, SLIGHTLY MORE UPBEAT ON FY21, 22 GROWTH
–Central Bank Still Sees Under 1% Inflation in 2 Years, Well Below 2% Target By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan has maintained its policy stance, as expected, after extending the period of special easing tools last month amid growing downside risks, while continuing to forecast that the domestic economy will recover part […]
JAPAN DEC EXPORTS POST 1ST RISE IN OVER 2 YEARS AMID UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK
By Mas Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports recorded the first year-on-year gain in just over two years, as largely expected, thanks to a recent gradual pickup in global demand, but the outlook for one of the key growth drivers for slow domestic recovery remains uncertain amid a surge in new coronavirus cases in many parts […]
BoA GLOBAL FUND MANAGER SURVEY: INVESTORS SEE STRONGER GROWTH IN 2021 AS WORLD RECOVERS FROM VIRUS
–Investors Eye Higher Stock Prices, Steeper Yield Curve, Rising Inflation by Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors at the start of 2021 anticipated stronger growth in the months ahead as the world recovers from COVID-19, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Wednesday. In line with […]
JAPAN NOV HOUSEHOLD SPENDING POSTS MODEST RISE ON YEAR BUT SLIPS FROM OCT AMID PANDEMIC FEARS
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending in November posted a modest rise from a year earlier, up for the second straight month, as the effects of a sales tax hike in October 2019 had faded, but consumption marked the first month-on-month decline in four months in light of rising new cases of the […]
JAPAN FACTORY OUTPUT PICKUP PAUSES IN NOV, SHIPMENTS SLIP, AMID PANDEMIC UNCERTAINTY
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production marked time in November in its gradual recovery from the pandemic-caused slump after five straight monthly gains, with the level of output staying under year-earlier levels amid uncertainty over global growth, preliminary data released Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. While noting factory […]
JAPAN DEC TOKYO CPI POSTS LARGEST Y/Y DROP IN 10 YEARS
–Sliding Energy Prices, Government-Led Travel Discounts Cited By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading indicator of the national average, took the deepest dive in a decade in December, hit by falling food and energy prices as well as a controversial five-month-old government program to support the pandemic-hit tourism industry with hefty […]
JAPAN GOVT SEES PANDEMIC-CAUSED SOFT SPOTS IN SPENDING, DOWNGRADES VIEW ON EUROPE
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday warned that consumer spending, which accounts for over half of domestic output, is showing soft spots despite its overall improvement from the pandemic-caused slump, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. While noting increasing export volumes, particularly of automobiles and semiconductor-producing equipment, the government […]
BOJ EXTENDS ASSET BUYING, SPECIAL FUNDING OPS UNTIL SEPT 2021 TO FIGHT COVID DRAG; TO REVIEW EASING TOOLS
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan Friday offered an early Christmas gift by extending the period of increased financial asset purchases and special funding operations aimed at promoting more lending to cash-strapped small businesses by six months until the end of September 2021. After a regular two-day policy meeting, the bank’s nine-member […]
JAPAN NOV CPI DROP DEEPER ON WEAKER ENERGY, GOVT-FINANCED HOTEL DISCOUNTS EASE AMID COVID SPIKE
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese consumer prices posted a sharper drop in November as energy costs continued falling but a spike in coronavirus cases later in the month appeared to have slowed the use of hefty government-financed discounts on hotel and transport charges, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication released Friday […]