The nomination of the Bank of Japan's newest board member is prompting investor speculation Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda will find it easier to expand monetary stimulus.
Yukitoshi Funo, an adviser at Toyota Motor Corp. who previously ran its Asian business outside of Japan, is waiting to be confirmed by the Diet. Funo is set to replace Yoshihisa Morimoto, who voted against the BOJ's October decision to increase its asset purchases and whose term ends June 30. Kuroda won last year's policy vote with a majority of just 5 to 4. The move sent the yen plunging.
"Kuroda is in the mode to stimulate further," said Hideo Shimomura, the chief fund investor in Tokyo at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management, which oversees the equivalent of $66.9 billion. "New members will support him. The policy votes won't be a close call. Kuroda will easily get a majority."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.