Analysis: What’s Next after Starmer Resigns as UK Prime Minister
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned as leader of the Labour Party early on Monday, bringing an end to his turbulent two-year spell as prime minister. A visibly-emotional Starmer acknowledged that he’d lost the confidence of his Labour Party colleagues and pledged his full support to his successor. He’ll […]
Japan Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Recovery but Also Warns that High Import Costs, Tight Materials Supply to Weigh on Growth
–Some Economists Project Q2 GDP Dip as Effects of Mideast Conflict on Consumption, Capex to Become More Pronounced By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government is sticking to its gradual economic recovery scenario after the January-March GDP data confirmed a steady recovery from a mild slump two quarters earlier but officials continued to warn about […]
Japan Week Ahead: US Treasury Secretary Bessent Goes to Tokyo on Way to US-China Summit, Meeting PM Takaichi, Others, After Suspected Japan FX Intervention
–Household Spending Seen Sluggish amid Rising Costs, Producer Inflation Accelerating on Mideast Conflict By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Trading returns to normal after the Golden Week holidays that ended on Wednesday, May 6. Government policymakers have also returned from international meetings and diplomatic visits. The […]
Japan Week Ahead: Markets Jittery After Suspected MOF Intervention to Stop Yen Fall Beyond Y160 as Mideast Conflict Slows Factory Output
–BOJ Board Decides to Stand Pat in 6-to-3 Vote, Mulling Better Timing for Follow-Up Rate Hike By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week and a review of the holiday-shortened past week. The local markets will be closed from Monday, May 4 until Wednesday, May 6 in the […]
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 […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Ishiba in Rough Waters amid High Costs After Ruling LDP’s Tokyo Assembly Poll Setback Ahead of Upper House Election Next Month
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic and political events for the coming week following no change in the Bank of Japan’s policy interest rate and a slower tapering pace for the bank’s government bond purchases in fiscal 2026. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a setback in Sunday’s Tokyo assembly […]
Japan Weekahead: Bank of Japan Set to Keep 0.5% Policy Rate, Focus on Possible Moderation in FY26 Balance Sheet Trim; Exports Hit by Trump Tariffs, Underlying Inflation Still Below 2%
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic and political events for the coming week. – Monday, June 16 1400 JST (0500 GMT/0100 EDT) – The Bank of Japan’s nine-member board begins its two-day policy meeting. On day one, board members compare notes on the economic and financial conditions in Japan and […]
Japan Finance Minister Kato: Didn’t Discuss FX Levels, Framework with US Counterpart Treasury Sec Bessent
–BOJ Governor Ueda: To Hike Interest Rates Gradually If Outlook for 2% inflation Sets in By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato told a news conference on Thursday in Washington that he and his U.S. counterpart didn’t discuss guiding the currency market toward a weaker dollar against yen to help trim the […]
Japan Seeks to Tide Over Trade War by Shoring Up Consumption, Keeps Gradual Economic Recovery View Despite Mixed Business Sentiment, Rising Inflation Risks
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its cautiously optimistic assessment for the eighth straight month, saying the economy is expected stay on a “modest recovery” track, but highlighted the growing uncertainty around the world triggered by the protectionist U.S. trade policy under President Trump. In its monthly report for April released Friday by […]
Japan’s Government Keeps Economic Recovery Scenario, Warns of Downside Risks Arising from High Costs of Living, Trump Tariffs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its cautiously optimistic assessment for the seventh straight month, saying the economy is expected to stay on a “modest recovery” track, but also warned about downside risks arising from high costs of living hurting consumption and the trade war launched by the Trump administration. In its monthly […]