Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi Back to Inflation Fighting after Performing in Trump Diplomatic Theater; February Core CPI Seen Drifting Below BOJ’s 2%, Calm Before Iran War Storm
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Following last week’s majority decision by the Bank of Japan’s board to pause in its gradual rate hike process, CPI data for February is forecast to show core inflation moderated to an annual rate below the bank’s 2% target as […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Japan November Household Spending Posts Unexpected Rebound on Autos in Routine Data Sample Shuffle, More Shopping Days, Winter Clothing Needs
–Many Remain Frugal Amid High Costs of Living, Trimming Gift Money and Switching to More Affordable Mobile Phone Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted an unexpected rebound in November, up a decent 2.9% on year (vs. consensus -1.4%), led mainly by a jump in automobile purchases due to a routine […]
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 […]
Japan Govt Sticks to Modest Recovery Outlook as Exports Weather Trump Tariff Storms; BOJ Hikes Rates on Easing Trade Uncertainties, Vows to Raise More
–BOJ Governor Ueda: Policy Rate at 0.75% After Latest 25-Bp Hike Still ‘Slightly Below’ Estimated Neutral Rate By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese government policymakers are holding on to their conviction that the economy will stay on a modest recovery track as the latest trade data showed a rebound in exports to the key U.S. […]
Bank of Japan Survey: Majority of Firms Plan to Keep Current High Pace of Wage Hikes in Fiscal 2026
–Combined with Improving Business Confidence in Tankan, Wages Survey Points to BOJ Rate Hike This Week By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Three days before its policy-setting meeting, the Bank of Japan on Monday released the results of a quick survey that showed a majority of companies plan to maintain the existing relatively high pace of […]