Japan’s Government Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery Despite Sluggish Consumption, Flat Real Wage Growth Amid Food-Led Inflation

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue despite sluggish consumer spending and flat real wage growth amid high costs for food and other necessities. In its monthly report for December released Friday by the Cabinet Office, the government said the economy is […]

Japan Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery but Warns It Now Needs to Watch Future US Policy amid Headwinds of Inflation, Middle East Tensions, Weak Yen

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue thanks to wage hikes amid widespread labor shortages, but urged a close watch on the future U.S. government policy as well as lingering high costs for necessities, geopolitical risks and the weak yen. In its […]

Japan PM Kishida Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election at LDP Leadership Convention Next Month, Hoping to Calm Voter Rage Over Political Funding Scandal

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced that he will not seek re-election at the Liberal Democratic Party leadership convention in late September, taking the blame for widespread political funding scandals at the ruling party, a key factor behind sluggish voter support for the administration. Kishida, 67, will step […]

Italy Eyes More Medium-Long Bonds to Lengthen Debt Life – Sources 

According to Rome’s government that has carried out several surveys, longer maturities appeal to Italian families as they tend to have lots of savings they prefer to invest in long term investments, and trust the state to hold their money more than banks.  “The era of zero rates is over, which means that the cost […]

US June ISM Manufacturing in Contraction for 3rd Straight Month as Demand Remains Weak amid High Interest Rates

–ISM Manufacturing Index Dips to 48.5 from 48.7 in May, Below Median Forecast of 49.1–ISM’s Fiore: Biggest Concern in June Report is over Falling Production–Fiore: Employment Unlikely to Expand Without Significant Pickup in Demand–Fiore: Manufacturing Still ‘Stable’ During Summer Months When Activity Slows Down By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity was in contraction […]