Japan’s Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Pickup Amid Global Tightening, High Costs, Weak Yen 
Preview: BOJ Tankan Manufacturers’ Sentiment Seen Up in September, Services Down
–End to Covid Lockdown in Shanghai Supports Factory Operations –Downside Risks Arise from Global Slowdown amid Tightening by US, Others –Spike in Japan Covid Cases, High Import Costs Hit Services Sector –Business Confidence in December Projected to Be Mixed –Smaller Firms Expected to Revise Up Their Combined FY22 Capex Plans Further By Max […]
Japan Intervenes in Forex Market to Stop One-Sided, Rapid Yen Fall
–Finance Minister Suzuki Says Govt Steps in To Stem Speculative Move –MOF Suzuki: To Take Necessary Steps on Excessive Fluctuations –BOJ Kuroda: No Need to Change Basic Yield Curve Control Easing Guideline for 2 to 3 Years –BOJ Kuroda Before Intervention: YCC Designed to Correct Tight Yen Funds in Event of Yen-Buying FX Operations –BOJ […]
Japan Seeking to Keep Yen Bears at Bay with Threat of Forex Intervention
–Tokyo Would Need Washington’s Consent and Help to Have Much Impact -US Has No Compelling Reason Yet to Step into FX Market–Japan’s Dollar Selling Ammunition Limited to Its Foreign Reserves By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese policymakers are using verbal warnings and inquiries on market levels to stop the yen from depreciating rapidly against the […]
Japan July Industrial Output Up Slightly on Easing Supply Bottlenecks for Autos
–METI Survey Points to Possible Dip in August Output, Small Gain in September–METI Keeps View: Output Making One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI: To Watch Effects of Rising Covid Cases, Parts Shortages, Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted a slight gain in July in light of easing supply constraints for automakers, […]
Japan July Jobless Rate Unchanged as Govt Avoids Covid Restrictions Amid Case Spike
–Employment Posts 1st Y/Y Drop in 4 Months, Led by Wholesalers, Retailers, Manufacturing–Number of Unemployed Marks 13th Straight Y/Y Drop But Still Above January 2020 Level–Unemployment at 2.6% from May to July Vs. April’s 2-Year Low 2.5%–Fewer Job Losses M/M in July While More People Seek Other Openings By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls […]
Japan Government Keeps Economic View on Gradual Pickup but Warns of Global Tightening, Rising Prices
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday maintained its economic overview after upgrading it last month, indicating consumption is leading a pickup in domestic demand amid a spike in Covid cases while firms are keen to invest in equipment for streamlined and greener operations, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. […]
Japan PM Kishida Shuffles Cabinet as Support Sags Over Ruling Party Ties to Cult
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shuffled his cabinet Wednesday, seeking to shore up sagging voter support amid revelations that ruling party lawmakers have done little to counter what some lawyers say are illegal activities by the Unification Church, which has cultivated close ties with conservative politicians for over five decades. […]
Japan Government Upgrades View: Consumption, Jobs Leading Gradual Economic Pickup
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday upgraded its economic overview for the first time in three months in July as consumption is on a clearer pickup path, led by job creation and pent-up demand, but real wages are falling amid rising inflation and the weaker yen is eroding purchasing power, according to its […]
Japan May CPI Annual Rate Remains Above 2% on Fuels, Food, Appliances
By Max Sato –Core CPI +2.1% Y/Y for May, April Largest in Over 13 Years If 2014 Sales Tax Hike Impact Excluded–Total CPI +2.4% Y/Y for May, April Largest in Over 30 Years Excluding Impact of 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes–Pace of Energy Price Rise Slower; Household Durable Goods Prices on Uptrend (MaceNews) – Consumer […]