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 […]
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 […]
US ISM Services Sector PMI Hits 14-Month High Mainly on Seasonal Effects but 12-Month Moving Average Still Low
US ISM’s Miller: Not Out of Tariffs Woods Yet but Sitting on Their Edge By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The U.S. services sector was in expansion territory for the third straight month in December as customers’ yearend budget spending lifted retailers and the flu vaccine season supported healthcare service providers but stiff Trump tariffs are […]
Still Divided Fed Officials Leave Near- term Interest Rate Cuts in Doubt
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the new year commenced, Federal Reserve officials have neither foreclosed the possibility of further interest rate reductions, nor encouraged hopes for them. With the economy just beginning to come out of a fog of uncertainty induced by the data blackout accompanying last Fall’s government shutdown, few are prepared […]
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 […]
Preview: Forecasters See Household Spending Down 1.4% On Year in November
Friday, Jan. 9, 20260830 JST (2350 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Jan. 8) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases the November average household spending.Mace News median forecasts: -1.4% y/y (range: -2.5% to -0.6%) vs. Oct -3.0%; +1.4% m/m (range: +0.4% to +3.3%) vs. Oct -3.5% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending […]
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 Week Ahead: Inflation Easing Toward Bank of Japan’s 2% Target; Factory Output to Slip Back but Has Firm Undertone, Bucking US Tariff Damper
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week following the Bank of Japan board’s unanimous decision to raise the overnight interest rate target by 25 basis points to a 30-year high of 0.75% in light of easing uncertainties over global trade rows initiated by the Trump administration. […]
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. […]
Fed Officials Remain Divided on Future Rate Path After Dec. 10 Rate Cut
– Miran, Waller Want More Rate Cuts; Williams, Others Equivocal If Not Hostile By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the year drew toward a close following a third interest rate cut, Federal Reserve policymakers continued to display disunity on the rate path ahead, as officials put different weights on the Fed’s “price stability” and […]