Japan Week Ahead: BOJ Seen Standing Pat amid Uncertainty Over U.S.-Iran Standoff in Mideast Peace Talks
–Factory Output, Retail Sales Seen Posting Modest Rebound, Unemployment Stable, Inflation in Tokyo Tame By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Risk-on and risk-off trading is likely to continue in the financial markets as investors watch for news from U.S.-Iran talks aimed at breaking the impasse in […]
Japan Keeps Cautiously Optimistic Economic Outlook as Bulls Drive Tokyo Stocks Higher on Hopes of End to Mideast Conflict, Resumed Gulf Shipping
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continues to expect a gradual economic recovery, backed by strong demand for investment in artificial intelligence, while Tokyo stock markets keep flirting with record highs on hopes of an end to the Iran war that would allow reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for oil and gas […]
Fed’s Jefferson: FOMC ‘Well-Positioned’ To Face Upside Inflation, Downside Job Risks
–– Williams: FOMC Is Now ‘Really Well-Positioned’ To ‘Wait and See’ — Goolsbee: Fed in ‘Very Uncomfortable Situation; Facing Danger of ‘Stagflation’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Phillip Jefferson said Tuesday evening that monetary policy is “well-positioned” in a war-influenced environment of both upside risks to inflation and downside risks […]
FOMC Leaves Funds Rate Unchanged in 3.50-3.75% Target Range
– Participants Project one 25 BP Rate Cut to 3.25-3.50% By End Of 2026 – Gov. Miran Only Dissent; Favored 25 BP Rate Cut – FOMC: Economic ‘Implications of Developments in Middle East…Uncertain’ – Participants Revise ‘Longer Run” (Neutral) Funds Rate From 3.0% to 3.1% – Powell: Must ‘Wait and See’ War Impact; Balance Upside […]
Japan’s Government Sticks to Modest Economic Recovery Outlook as Firms Tiding Over Trump Tariff Storms, Inflation Drifting Lower on Easing Food, Energy Costs
–PM Takaichi Quiet on BOJ’s Unwinding of Stimulus; Mainichi Says She Showed Reluctance to Further Rate Hikes in Recent Meeting with Governor Ueda –Government Nominates Academic Types with Possible Reflationary Bias to Replace Two Outgoing BOJ Board Members By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continues to predict a modest economic recovery, noting that corporate […]
Preview: Forecasters See Slower CPI Inflation in January
Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Feb. 19) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases January CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.6% y/y (range: +1.5% to +1.7%) vs. Dec+2.1%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +2.1% y/y (range: +2.0% to +2.1%) vs. Dec +2.4%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +2.7% y/y (range […]
Update: IMF Official: BOJ Expected to Raise Policy Rate to 1.5% by Two 25-Basis Point Hikes This Year, One Next Year
–Updates with Official Remarks at Briefing, Background –IMF: BOJ Policy Interest Rate Below Estimated Neutral Rate, Echoing Recent Comments of BOJ Governor Ueda –IMF: Continued Unwinding of Monetary Stimulus to Lift BOJ’s Overnight Rate to Neutral In 2027 –IMF Advises Against Lowering 10% Sales Tax, Hails PM Takaichi Plan to Suspend it for 2 Years […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Fund Managers Stay Bullish in February
–Investors Favor Eurozone, EM Markets over U.S. By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global fund managers remained “uber-bullish” in February, according to the latest Bof Global Fund Managers survey, released Tuesday. Given this mindset, any rise in asset prices during the first quarter of 2026 may prove “much harder when all positioned for it,” […]
US ISM Services Sector Afloat over Optimism for Better Business in 2026 but AI Boom Causing Capacity Concerns; Overall Cost Pressures Remain High
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The U.S. services sector posted a 19th straight month of expansion in January on general optimism that things will turn around in 2026 in the aftermath of Trump tariff storms but the pace of activity was flat on the month as data center expansion is causing capacity concerns and rising […]
FOMC Leaves Funds Rate Unchanged; Suggests Easing Pause Will Continue
– FOMC Signals No Hurry To Resume Easing with Unemployment ‘Stabilizing’ – Powell: Fed ‘Well-Positioned’ To See how ‘Solid’ Economy, Jobs, Inflation Unfold By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve declined Wednesday to lower interest rates further in its first monetary policy meeting of the year, despite enormous pressure to do so from […]