Tag - monetary-policy

 
 

MONETARY POLICY

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.
The U.S. Federal Reserve's cutting of the federal funds rate from 5.3% to a range of 4.75-5%, its first monetary-easing cycle in over four years, has provided China with greater flexibility to stimulate its struggling economy.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 10, 2024
What U.S. interest-rate cuts mean for China
The Fed's easing cycle means lower debt burdens and higher liquidity, allowing countries to cut rates without fearing excessive capital outflows.
The size of the carry trade strategy is hard to determine because currency transactions, unlike stock trades, aren't tracked on exchanges. We only have estimates.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 14, 2024
How big is the yen carry trade, really?
There is now worry that the unwinding of yen-funded carry trades would wreck investors’ frothy exposures to U.S. technology and AI-related companies.
A return to the world with interest will almost certainly mean an increase in the bifurcation of Japan's haves and have-nots.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 5, 2024
Is Japan ready for a ‘world with interest?’
Ever since Ueda arrived at the central bank 15 months ago, economists have been debating what the "world with interest” will look like.
Ideal or not, the reality of the world is that one currency, the U.S. dollar, is first among equals.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 18, 2024
Asian currencies can't fight the dollar on a rampage
Markets tend to reflect economic performance. And ideal or not, the reality of a world is one currency, the U.S. dollar, is truly first among equals.
Apart from the direct economic costs, governments that conspire to thwart the dollar system risk losing America’s security guarantees as well.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 20, 2023
The greenback’s full-spectrum dominance is here to stay
Debates about the future of the international monetary system often fail to appreciate the greenback’s full-spectrum dominance.
Challenges to the U.S. dollar’s vital role in the world economic and financial system are often said to be imminent, but somehow never materialize.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 23, 2023
A BRICS common currency is still a pipe dream
The greenback comprises just under 60% of global currency reserves, down from around 70% in 2000. Still that is well above any competitor.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2023
What to expect from the first academic economist to be BOJ governor
Kazuo Ueda's distance from the BOJ is seen as a plus when it comes to unraveling the central bank's ultraeasy policy, but that process will still be far from easy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Nov 25, 2022
Slower Fed hikes spell relief from Tokyo to Buenos Aires
A slowdown in the pace takes pressure off global peers to keep on raising rates and offers relief to emerging markets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Nov 14, 2022
From bad to worse? Next year’s economic risks are already here.
History says the Federal Reserve's high-speed interest-rate hikes may well tip the U.S. into recession in 2023. Few will be surprised if spiraling natural-gas prices do the same for Europe.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 23, 2022
Japan’s intervention underlines its interest rate isolation
The yen is paying the price for the Bank of Japan's ultraeasy monetary stance. Until the bank shifts, a sustained rally is very difficult.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 15, 2022
Fed minutes may reveal inclinations on size of next rate hike
Are further rate hikes likely to be of smaller incremental size, or is the door really open to something larger?
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 15, 2022
Russia unplugs foes, rewards friends in latest market reboot
The plan will focus on mobilizing capital at home while catering to places the Kremlin considers friendly.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 15, 2022
The end of the EU’s free lunch
The Keynesian demand policy to stimulate economic activity will merely fuel inflation, for which the ECB will rightly be blamed if it keeps buying government bonds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2022
Fed officials say rates likely to rise into next year to curb inflation
Two U.S. Federal Reserve officials have responded to softening inflation data by saying it doesn't change the U.S. central bank's path toward even higher interest rates this year and next.
BUSINESS
Jul 21, 2022
Bank of Japan keeps easing policies in place, reaffirming position as global outlier
The decision by the central bank was widely expected among economists, as long-time Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has shown no sign of departing from his dovish policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 17, 2022
BOJ to mull lifting inflation outlook at upcoming policy meeting
The BOJ is expected to discuss lowering the fiscal 2022 economic growth forecast, currently at 2.9%, as corporate production activities are restrained by shortages of parts.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 14, 2022
Hot U.S. inflation fuels bets on supersized Fed rate hike
A bevy of U.S. central bankers in recent weeks have signaled support for a second straight 75 basis points rate increase at their upcoming policy meeting on July 26 and 27.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 13, 2022
Boris Johnson leaves behind a sterling mess
Investors appear to view the British pound more like the currency of a troubled emerging market than of a stable advanced economy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 10, 2022
Abe’s greatest economic policy legacy is looking careworn
The former premier knew what he wanted from monetary stimulus and the person to get him there: BOJ Gov. Kuroda. But does Japan still support those policies?

Longform

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?