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BOJ

The next 12 months will be more challenging, with some countries pursuing quick interest-rate cuts while others will proceed cautiously.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 27, 2024
A view to 2025: Enough with the central bank hawks and doves
Interest-rate cuts will be a feature, including at institutions that resisted easing in 2024. But mind the nuances.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda during a news conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo following a BOJ policy meeting on Dec. 19
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 27, 2024
Some BOJ policymakers called for rate hike soon, December summary shows
The Bank of Japan held interest rates steady at 0.25% at this month's meeting.
Inflation in Tokyo accelerated for a second month in December, as the government temporarily phased out utility subsidies, a result that will likely support expectations of an interest rate hike next year.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 27, 2024
Inflation in Tokyo accelerates, keeping rate hike prospects intact
The Tokyo core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food costs, rose 2.4% in December from a year earlier.
The latest sale plan of Japanese government bonds reflects the government's efforts to fill a huge hole left by the BOJ's diminishing presence in the JGB market.
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 26, 2024
Government plans to sell more JGBs for first time in four years, draft shows
Much of the increase will be made in shorter-dated debt to tap demand from Japanese banks.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Thursday at the Prime Minister's Office.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 26, 2024
Japan wage growth projected to outpace inflation in fiscal 2025
In fiscal 2025, nominal wages are projected to increase 2.8% from the previous year, while the overall consumer price index is forecast to rise 2.0%.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda appears to want to keep his options open by noting the need to keep rates low to support the economy while flagging the risk of maintaining them at low levels for too long.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 25, 2024
Ueda avoids giving clear hint on chances of January rate hike
The Bank of Japan governor is sticking to his view that the central bank needs to keep monitoring risks for the economy.
Minutes from the Bank of Japan's October policy meeting highlight how overseas economic risks, particularly those surrounding the new U.S. administration's policies, will be key to how soon the BOJ will hike rates.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 24, 2024
BOJ debated need for caution in raising rates, meeting minutes show
Contrary to its concern over external risks, the BOJ board was mostly optimistic on domestic economic conditions.
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda said in July that the central bank’s holdings would decrease by 7% to 8% in about two years’ time, but they are set to stay at higher-than-desirable levels in the long-term.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 23, 2024
Japan's bond supply set to reach decade high as BOJ bond purchases slow
The BOJ’s plan to almost halve bond purchases comes as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans additional spending in an extra budget.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. Strategists are now feeling less optimistic on the yen’s outlook after Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda opened up the possibility of waiting longer for the next rate hike.
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 23, 2024
Yen bulls retreat as Fed and BOJ dim hopes of quick narrowing of rate gap
Wide gaps in interest rates could bring back the yen carry trade, in which investors borrow in Japan and deploy the funds in higher-yielding markets.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo on Thursday
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Dec 21, 2024
Economists see BOJ's policy review as insufficient
The massive easing policy has caused adverse effects, such as a loosening of fiscal discipline, economists said.
A pedestrian crossing in Tokyo's Ginza district. In an economic report released Friday, the government cut its assessment on corporate profits for the first time since March 2023.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2024
Japan says overall economy recovering, but cuts view on corporate profits
Among key economic areas, the government cut its assessment on corporate profits for the first time since March 2023 as the pace of its recovery was moderating.
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said Friday that Japan will take appropriate action if there are excessive moves in the currency market, as the yen resumed its rapid downturn.
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 20, 2024
Japan warns on yen after BOJ’s dovish messaging extends slide
Recent sharp movements in the yen feed into concerns that the government may intervene in the currency market.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier driven by higher energy costs.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2024
Japan’s inflation accelerates on energy as BOJ seeks more data
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier driven by higher energy costs.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda holds a news conference after a BOJ policy meeting in Tokyo on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 19, 2024
Bank of Japan opts for caution as Trump factor and wage concerns weigh
Ueda said that it might take quite a while to fully assess Japan’s wage-growth trend and the impact of the economic policies of the Trump administration.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda gives a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 31.
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2024
BOJ meets for final rate review this year as Trump risk clouds outlook
Sources have said the BOJ is leaning toward keeping interest rates steady at the two-day meeting concluding on Thursday.
The fall of financial assets held by households in Japan reflected a decline in stock prices following the central bank's decision in July to raise interest rates, as well as a weaker yen.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 18, 2024
Japan household financial assets post first fall in eight quarters
The fall reflected a decline in stock prices following the central bank's decision in July to raise interest rates, as well as a weaker yen.
Honmoku pier in Yokohama. While the value of exports has risen, trade is giving limited support to the economy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 18, 2024
Weak yen helps Japan’s exports rise ahead of BOJ meet
Exports measured in value rose 3.8% from a year earlier led by chipmaking machinery and nonferrous metals.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda. The central bank's policy board meets this week.
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 16, 2024
Uncertainty reigns as BOJ rate bets almost evenly split
Slightly less than half of surveyed economists expect the central bank to raise rates this week while just over half believe it will wait until January.
Nobuhiro Ito, who runs casting-maker Ito Tekko, which employs about 100 people, in front of his company's factory in the city of Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 13, 2024
BOJ's rate hike plans clouded by small firms' wage woes
Next year's wage prospects are crucial for sustaining a consumption-led recovery — a prerequisite for further rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.
Business sentiment among large manufacturers in Japan improved for the first time in two quarters, the Bank of Japan's tankan survey for December showed Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 13, 2024
Japan business mood improves slightly, but global risks cloud outlook
The Bank of Japan tankan survey results come ahead of a two-day policy meeting next week, when its board will debate whether to lift rates from the current 0.25%.

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