Bank of Japan (BoJ)
Bank of Japan: Losing independence?
ARTICLE - This article looks at the recent initiatives by the Bank of Japan but says the BOJ's independence may be slipping as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and members of his economic team want a greater say in BOJ policy-making.
Call for Bank of Japan to adopt inflation target
The Japanese government will urge the Bank of Japan to adopt an inflation target, an influential member of the ruling Liberal Democratic party said Sunday. The comments follow those of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda who said last week that an…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, December 2002
REPORT - The Bank of Japan published its Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments, December 2002, on 19 December. In its report the Bank says "Japan's economy has stabilised as a whole, but there is still substantial uncertainty…
Bank of Japan says recovery not expected soon
The Bank of Japan Wednesday left its core economic assessment for December unchanged from November in its December monthly report, repeating that Japan's economy has bottomed but there is strong uncertainty over the economy's future course.
BOJ keeps monetary policy steady
The Bank of Japan kept its monetary policy unchanged on Tuesday but stepped up its support for the funding of small businesses in an effort to prevent banking sector paralysis from causing an economic crisis.
BoJ needs deflation fighter: Koizumi
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi wants the replacement for Bank of Japan governor Masaru Hayami to focus on combating the economy's persistent deflation.
Interview - Toshihiko Fukui, former dep gov of BoJ
INTERVIEW - The Bank of Japan will maintain a bias toward easing monetary policy to avert any concerns of tightening liquidity in financial markets and promote expectations of a stable financial environment, a front-runner in the race to be the next BOJ…
BOJ buys Y71bn worth of stocks from banks
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) had purchased 71.16 billion yen worth of stocks held by commercial banks as of Tuesday 10 December on a delivery-completed basis, the central bank said in a report released Thursday.
BOJ's Hayami wants increased securitisation
Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami repeated Monday that policy in Japan should be focused on structural reform of the country's fragile financial sector, which he said is muting the impact of easy monetary policy.
Japan's Takanaka says inflation defeat difficult
Japan's Economy Minister Heizo Takenaka kept up the pressure on the Bank of Japan Thursday to further ease monetary policy. But, as we have previously reported, the Bank is keen to add further stimulation with board member Hidehiko Haru saying last week…
Hayami - Monetary policy a kind of targeting
Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami Thursday dismissed calls for the BOJ to set a target for inflation, saying the central bank didn't have the tools to make such a target credible. A senior politician Taku Yamasaki, said on Wednesday, 'at the very…
BOJ Suda - Need to watch impact of loan clean-up
As the Bank of Japan begins its stock purchase scheme Miyako Suda said in a speech that how bad loans are dispersed and the impact on the economy must be watched carefully.
BOJ to start releasing data on stock buying policy
The Bank of Japan said on Tuesday it will begin periodically releasing data on its purchases of shares from banks, a move that could indicate the effectiveness of its efforts to stabilise the financial system. The Bank began its unprecedented policy on…
BOJ to consider all possible easing measures
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said Wednesday the central bank would consider all possible easing measures, including unorthodox steps, if economic and financial conditions warrant such a move. The Bank is under great pressure to get the…
Minutes of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting
MINUTES - Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 10 and 11 October 2002, released 22 November. The nine member Policy Board decided unanimously to leave monetary policy unchanged at the meeting, resisting political pressure to try to…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, November 2002
REPORT - The Bank of Japan published its Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments, November 2002, on 21 November. In the report the Bank downgraded its assessment of the economy for the first time in a year, citing stagnant export-led…
JGBs higher as BoJ leaves policy unchanged
The Bank of Japan said Tuesday it would maintain current policy for money market operations. The vote was unanimous. Although the BoJ is under political pressure to ease further it was felt by many that they are waiting to see what impact their recent…
Minutes of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting
MINUTES - Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 17 and 18 September 2002, released 5 November. The Policy Board noted Japan's economy has almost stabilised as a whole thanks to an export increase and the associated expansion of…
How to get growth in Japan
What Japan needs is a massive boost, not to the monetary base, but to domestic credit creation. Richard Werner outlines how this could be brought about.
Bank of Japan eases monetary policy further
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan on Wednesday unanimously decided to further ease its monetary policy for the first time in eight months, in a bid to complement the government's "anti-deflation" package, also released today.
Hayami pans adoption of inflation target for Japan
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami on Thursday rejected the notion of adopting an inflation target as a means of helping to raise prices and fight deflation. "There is no data to support the procedure and the way to achieve it," Hayami told a…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, October 2002
REPORT - The Bank of Japan published its Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments, October 2002, on 16 October. In its report the Bank says that Japan's economy has stabilised as a whole, but clear signs of recovery have not yet been…
BOJ should create inflation to fight deflation
INTERVIEW - The best way to fight deflation is to create inflation, according to Kikuo Iwata, professor at Gakushuin University, who suggests the Bank of Japan set an inflation target of 1 to 3 percent for the next 12 months.
Bank of Japan Stock Purchase Guidelines
GUIDELINES - At a regular board meeting held 11 October, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan approved basic guidelines on the purchase of stocks held by commercial banks.