Japan Week Ahead: Newspapers Predict PM Takaichi’s LDP Likely to Win Simple Majority in General Election but Warn Things Could Change Closer to Feb. 8 Vote
–Household Spending Seen Indicating Resilient Consumption in Q4 GDP Expected to Post Rebound After Economy’s 1st Contraction in 6 Quarters in Q3 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. So, there was no actual market intervention by the Ministry of Finance to sell dollars for yen last […]
FOMC Chooses Middle Ground, With No Rate Cut and Inflation Only ‘Somewhat Elevated,’ Unemp Showing Some Signs of Stabilization
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the text of Wednesday afternoon’s Federal Open Market policy statement: Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization. Inflation remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment […]
Japan Week Ahead: Lower House Election Campaign Underway Before Feb. 8 Vote as PM Takaichi Seeks Dual Fiscal Mandate, Stable Dollar/Yen
–December Factory Output to Show Slight Dip but Solid Q4, Sign for GDP Rebound; January Tokyo CPI Seen Tamer on Energy Price Drop, Erasing Food Pressures By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Currency traders are on alert for a possible market intervention by the Ministry of […]
Japan PM Takaichi to Call General Elections to Seek Dual Fiscal Policy Mandate of Boosting Economic Stimulus, Restraining Debt Issuance
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday, seeking to justify with a dual fiscal policy mandate yet another snap election less than 16 months after her predecessor called and lost a majority. The conservative politician with right-wing views on […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi’s LDP Faces Tough Headwinds from New Opposition Force in Upcoming General Elections; Economic Data to Show Export Resilience, Easing Inflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday evening (in the early hours of Monday, Jan. 19 in the Eastern time zone) to officially announce that she will call a snap election at the start […]
Fed’s Bowman Reaffirms Support for Additional Cuts In Federal Funds Rate
– Warns Against Signaling ‘Pause’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – A number of Federal Reserve officials have expressed hesitancy, if not outright opposition, about cutting interest rates further in recent days, but Vice Chairman for Supervision Michelle Bowman emphatically renewed her support for additional rate cuts Friday. Bowman joined Governor Stephen Miran in supporting […]
Japan Week Ahead: Prime Minister Takaichi Appears Set to Call February General Elections amid Rising Tension in Middle East, Risking Delayed Budget Approval
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Market participants are getting ready for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to call a snap election at the start of the 150-day ordinary Diet session on Jan. 23 following weekend news reports that she is weighing the option of dissolving the […]
Analysis: Japan Snap Election Chatter Heats Up as PM Takaichi Weighs Boosting Lower House Seats amid High Approval Ratings, Unstable Coalition
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Talk of snap elections is intensifying around Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as she ponders the logical option to call a snap election to lift her scandal-tainted conservative Liberal Democratic Party in the lower house before the honeymoon period wanes. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported late on Friday that Takaichi is […]
Enormous Questions After US Capture of Venezuela’s Maduro and Claimed Takeover of Oil Resources
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The stunning overnight U.S. military operation, involving thousands of troops and more than 150 aircraft, not only has captured Nicolas Maduro heading for a New York court appearance, but has brought a new geopolitical reality to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and perhaps far beyond. Though planned for months, there was no formal notification […]
Japan Week Ahead: Stocks Ending 2025 on High Note, Bond Yields Up on BOJ Rate Hike Outlook but Yen Remains Depressed
–PM Takaichi Keeps High Approval Ratings but Faces Challenges as Beijing Reacts to Her Taiwan Remarks By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming two weeks. Japanese markets are closed for yearend and New Year’s holidays from Wednesday, Dec. 31 until Friday, Jan. 2. Trading will resume on […]