Japan
Japanese risks balanced, says Shirakawa
Masaaki Shirakawa, the governor of the Bank of Japan, said on Friday that the risks to growth and inflation in Japan were evenly balanced and that the central bank's policy stance was neutral.
Japan lowers growth forecast
The Bank of Japan has revised down its growth estimate for this year on the back of flagging business fixed investment and poor private consumption figures.
Japanese SWF proposed
A panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has recommended that Japan should establish a sovereign wealth fund managing 10 trillion ($93 billion) in assets drawn from the country's pension reserves to bolster returns.
Tightening prospects fade in Japan
The prospects for a rate hike in Japan in the near future have become even smaller after a quarterly report by the Bank of Japan indicated that economic conditions have worsened in eight of the country's nine regions since April.
Japan shows resistance to turmoil
Japan's economy expanded moderately and exports continued to increase from October 2007 to March 2008, according to a report published by the Bank of Japan.
Tussle forces Tokyo to drop Ikeo nomination
Japan's ruling party will abandon its bid to appoint Kazuhito Ikeo to the Bank of Japan's rate-setting council after the opposition said it would no longer support the move.
BoJ Americas chief to take director-general role
Tadashi Nunami, the general manager for the Americas and chief representative at the Bank of Japan's New York office, will replace Toshio Idesawa as director-general of the central bank's international department.
BoJ publishes rate-meeting minutes
Some members of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Council suggested the institution should communicate that it always pays close attention to both economic and price developments, minutes of the May rate-setting meeting reveal.
Japan reviews communications on uncertainty
The Bank of Japan has produced research analysing the communication efforts of six central banks and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the economic outlook.
Ikeo gets the nod as Japanese opposition folds
Kazuhito Ikeo, an economics professor, will join the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Council after the country's main opposition party decided to revoke its earlier rejection of his nomination.
OMOs have contributed to calm: Japan's Shirakawa
Masaaki Shirakawa, the governor of the Bank of Japan, praised the flexibility of the central bank's money market operations, which had contributed to the relative stability of the country's short-term funding market.
Japan struggles to fill board vacancies
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has stuck with its controversial nomination of Kazuhito Ikeo to fill one of the two positions on the nine-member policy board of the Bank of Japan.
BoJ: risks to global growth keeps rate on hold
Downside risks to global growth have increased due to continuing disruptions in global financial markets and sluggish growth in the United States, according to minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Council meeting in April.
Political spat threatens further BoJ appointments
Japan's main opposition party has rejected yet another candidate for a senior role at the Bank of Japan.
Don't just focus on rates: Japan's Shirakawa
Though the increased attention given to monetary policy is welcomed, other aspects of central banking should receive more publicity, said Masaaki Shirakawa, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
Breaking the Japanese impasse
Ken Worsley assesses what the political battle over the new governor will mean for the Bank of Japan’s independence
The new face of the Bank of Japan
Masaaki Shirakawa brings a wealth of experience and a strong reputation to the top job in Japan, argues Malan Rietveld
Avoiding the deflation trap: three lessons from Japan
The Fed appears to have learned from Japanese monetary-policy mistakes of the early 1990s. But it could still find itself overwhelmed by events, argues Takeo Hoshi
Rate talk inappropriate: Japan's Shirakawa
Masaaki Shirakawa, the governor of the Bank of Japan, on Monday confirmed the central bank has abandoned trying to raise rates for the time being because of the uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook.
Japan lowers growth forecast
The Bank of Japan has chopped more than half a point off its growth estimate for 2008 and warned that in a highly uncertain climate, downside risks to the economy could further limit expansion.
Policy stance remains appropriate: BoJ minutes
Japanese policymakers remain keen to raise rates in spite of a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy, minutes of the March Monetary Policy Council meeting reveal.
Bank of Japan's economic outlook
Japanese economic growth is slowing mainly due to high energy and materials prices, the Bank of Japan's latest monthly economic report states.
Stalemate ends as Shirakawa is approved
Masaaki Shirakawa is the new governor of the Bank of Japan after the opposition Democratic Party of Japan accepted his nomination on Wednesday, ending a political standoff that has embarrassed both the central bank and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Tokyo nominates Shirakawa for governor
The leadership crisis at the Bank of Japan looks resolved after the government nominated Masaaki Shirakawa, the current acting governor, for the role on Monday night.