Japan
BoJ’s Shirakawa urges immediate labour market reforms
Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa warns against delaying policies to improve labour productivity in Japan
BoJ paper finds limited impact of tax benefits on corporate capital structure
Research finds default costs and the costs of outside equity have a larger effect on corporate capital structure than tax benefits
Bank of Japan launches Twitter account
Bank of Japan advances internet offerings by launching a Twitter account; joins several other central banks in ‘tweeting’ key information
Japanese business conditions improved slightly: BoJ survey
Bank of Japan Tankan survey shows Japanese companies believe business conditions in non-manufacturing sector were more favourable during fourth quarter of 2011
European Commission draws up new list of countries for Solvency II equivalence
Decision on Bermuda, Japan and Switzerland equivalence to be taken once Level 2 measures agreed
Change to Japan clearing mandate ends LCH-JSCC talks
A decision to limit the scope of Japan's clearing mandate has torpedoed months of partnership talks between LCH.Clearnet and the Japan Securities Clearing Corporation
Japan’s Miyao hammers home macroprudential importance
Speaking in San Francisco, policy board member Ryuzo Miyao explains how Japan is working on ways to better assess risks across the country’s entire financial system
BoJ’s Shirakawa raises concerns over Japan’s growth outlook
Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa warns economy is at risk of entering a “severe” economic period unless efforts are taken to address medium- to long-term growth prospects
Dovish Miyao wants more QE for Japan
Bank of Japan minutes show policy board member Ryuzo Miyao voted for a ¥10 trillion monetary injection at the last meeting
Industry praises expansion of South Korea’s currency swap arrangements
Senior executives of large enterprises praise Bank of Korea for expanding currency swaplines with Japan and China; industry concerned about slowdown caused by eurozone crisis
BoJ sees moderation in growth ahead
Bank of Japan November Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments shows slowdown in global demand is expected to moderate pace of growth in Japan
Quantitative easing proved effective in Japan: IMF paper
Fund study shows the Bank of Japan’s asset purchase programme helped lower bond yields and raised equity prices in the country
BoJ's Shirakawa urges greater caution over financial innovation
Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa says a better understanding of banks' incentive structures can minimise risks associated with financial innovation
Japan's Shirakawa explains QE expansion
Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa says the central bank’s latest round of quantitative easing was due to delay in return to price stability
BoJ provides more scope to ease policy
Bank of Japan amends terms and conditions of asset purchase programme to enable further room for monetary easing as yen hits five-year high
Japan and South Korea reinforce yen-won swap agreement
Bank of Japan and Bank of Korea increase size of bilateral yen-won swap arrangement tenfold; Japanese government also expands swap agreement with South Korea
Central banks shy away from euro reserves
New data from the IMF’s currency reserves database suggests reserves accumulation has slowed during 2011 and the appetite to hold euro reserves has also waned, particularly in emerging markets
Japan extends emergency relief measures
Emergency loan facility and relaxation of collateral eligibility standards extended; sign of Japan’s continued economic struggle
BoJ data signals boost in recovery effort
Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey highlights positive outlook for economy as business sentiment among Japanese manufacturers improves
G-20 commits to ‘strong and co-ordinated’ response to challenges
G-20 answers calls for united action; countries commit to implementing credible fiscal consolidation plans, and ensuring strong, sustainable and balanced growth
Worldwide warnings of escalating risk
International Monetary Fund and European Systemic Risk Board caution authorities over worldwide risk dangers; urge swift and decisive action
Video: BoJ’s Hiromi Yamaoka on the failure of global rulemakers to learn from Japan’s ‘lost decade’
Hiromi Yamaoka speaks about new recovery and resolution plans, the strength of the Japanese banking system and why he’s not worried about spiralling government debt
US and Japan generate largest spillover effects: IMF paper
Fund study finds slow-growing countries benefit most from growth spillover effects from US and Japan
BoJ prepared to react to strengthening yen, says Miyao
Bank of Japan policy board member Ryuzo Miyao says central bank stands ready to stem deflationary pressures resulting from rising yen