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BOJ

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during a news conference at a Group of 20 finance chiefs meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 27, 2024
Japan touts G20 reaffirmation of forex commitments as key achievement
The commitments say G20 nations recognize that disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic and financial stability.
Tokiko Shimizu, a former Bank of Japan executive director, is known as someone who broke glass ceilings after becoming the first woman to take various senior management roles at the BOJ, including branch manager in 2010.
BUSINESS
Jul 27, 2024
BOJ’s former top female executive takes gender fight to Japan’s schools
Tokiko Shimizu is launching her own consultancy to focus on bringing more women into STEM-related fields starting at the high school level.
Some investors are warning that a yen rally is fragile, as was on show this week when the yen rapidly retraced an advance after Thursday’s stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth figures.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 27, 2024
‘Crazy’ yen rally is at risk of shattering as soon as Wednesday
Swaps markets suggest a roughly 45% chance of the Bank of Japan hiking rates by 15 basis points at the conclusion of its July 31 policy meeting.
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 26, 2024
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japan’s benchmark index is now down 10% from its July peak, meeting the textbook definition of a market correction.
With the Bank of Japan seen raising rates this year, there are heightened expectations that banks’ profitability will improve.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 26, 2024
Expectations high for Japan’s bank results to spur stock rally
Japanese lenders are set to report quarterly results that for the first time fully reflect the end of negative rates next week.
Core inflation in Japan's capital accelerated for a third straight month in July, keeping alive market expectations of a near-term interest rate hike by the central bank.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 26, 2024
Tokyo inflation quickens, keeping BOJ hike option in play
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.2% in the capital, versus 2.1% in June, the internal affairs ministry reported.
The Nikkei stock index fell to a three-month low on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 25, 2024
Nikkei closes at 3-month low as yen strengthens
The 225-issue average fell 3.28% to end the day at 37,869.51, its lowest close since April 25.
The yen strengthened Wednesday to break the psychological threshold of ¥155 against the dollar, with technical indicators suggesting the momentum can continue.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 24, 2024
Yen extends advance as unwinding of global carry trades ramps up
Investors are betting on more rate hikes in Japan and the chance of further intervention by authorities to prop up the Japanese currency.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. A Bloomberg survey showed some 14 of 48 economists predict the BOJ will raise its policy rate at the next week’s meeting.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 24, 2024
Most BOJ watchers see July rate hike risk with bond-buying cut
Survey respondents also predicted the central bank will cut bond-buying to ¥5 trillion per month starting in August.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi says the Bank of Japan should more clearly show its intention to normalize monetary policy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 23, 2024
LDP heavyweight Toshimitsu Motegi calls for clearer sign from BOJ on policy
The remarks suggest growing political frustration over the central bank’s cautious stance as low rates keep pressure on the yen while inflation outpaces wage growth.
The exchange rate for the Japanese yen against the euro (left) and the U.S. dollar is displayed at a foreign exchange brokerage in Tokyo on June 27.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 23, 2024
Citi flags possible euro-yen intervention if rate nears ¥180 level
The euro-yen pair traded as high as ¥175.43 on July 11 — a record since the common currency was launched in 1999 — before retreating.
Bank of Japan officials are divided over whether to raise interest rates at a policy meeting next week, people familiar with the matter say.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 23, 2024
BOJ is said to see weak consumer spending complicating rate call
Weak consumer spending has prompted the government to cut its fiscal year growth forecast to 0.9%, with central bank likely lowering its projection to 0.5%.
Leveraged funds reduced net short positions on the yen the most since March 2011 during the week to July 16.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 22, 2024
Hedge funds slash short yen bets by most in more than a decade
Hedge funds pared bets against the yen in spectacular fashion after a suspected double-whammy market intervention from Japanese authorities.
The Bank of Japan's headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2024
BOJ urged to halve bond buying in scheduled tightening plan, minutes show
A significant number of the participants also urged the BOJ to taper bond purchases gradually to avoid upending the bond market.
The Nishiki market in Kyoto. June’s inflation report shows extraordinary jumps in the prices of some items favored by households, including cabbage (27.6%), potatoes (28.5%) and tomatoes (15.6%).
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 19, 2024
Households struggle as Japan’s inflation rises near U.S. levels
Consumer prices in Japan rose 2.8% on the year in June, close to the 3.0% in the United States.
Japan cut its economic growth forecast for the current fiscal year, reflecting weaker-than-expected private consumption.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 19, 2024
Japan cuts growth forecast as prime minister warns of weak-yen pain
The government cut its economic growth forecast for the current fiscal year ending in March 2025 to 0.9% from 1.3% projected in January.
The underperformance of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Growth Market 250 illustrates how smaller companies may bear a heavier burden should Bank of Japan officials raise interest rates.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 19, 2024
Newfound love for Japan’s small cap stocks to be tested
Strategists are increasingly concerned that the prospect of rising interest rates will weigh on smaller businesses that are vulnerable to rising borrowing costs.
The International Monetary Fund lowered its 2024 growth estimate for Japan by 0.2 point to 0.7%, citing temporary production suspensions at some automakers over their vehicle test cheating, as well as weak private investment.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 17, 2024
IMF cuts Japan's growth forecast, upbeat on consumption prospects
The IMF says it expects Japan's economy to expand 0.7% this year, down 0.2 percentage point from its forecast in April, after an 1.9% increase in 2023.
Taro Kono, Japan's digital transformation minister, speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jul 17, 2024
Taro Kono says central bank needs to raise rates to lift yen
Kono’s remarks could add to pressure on the Bank of Japan’s policy board to raise interest rates when it meets at the end of this month.
An electronic screen displays a graph showing yen exchange rates surging against the U.S. dollar amid an alert to the possibility of intervention in Tokyo on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 16, 2024
Japan keeps up yen warnings as two-day intervention suspected
Bank of Japan data released on Tuesday suggested Tokyo may have spent ¥2.14 trillion ($13.5 billion) intervening on Friday last week.

Longform

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