Japan
Japanese business prepares for e-money surge
The number of payment devices for processing e-money transactions in Japan is set to almost double by 2010 as the payment method gains popularity with consumers.
Muto lists criteria for Bank of Japan decisions
The Bank of Japan should assess three phenomena when deciding on monetary policy, says Toshiro Muto, a deputy governor.
Fukui notes success of Franco-Japanese relations
Japan and France have established a particularly constructive relationship in many economic spheres, says Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
Japan's Iwata praises new communication strategy
The Bank of Japan's new communication policy framework has improved both transparency and flexibility, says Kazumasa Iwata, a deputy governor at the central bank.
Japanese board all back 0.5% rate hold
The Bank of Japan's rate-setting board voted unanimously in favour of keeping its benchmark uncollateralised overnight call rate at 0.5% on Thursday.
East Asian integration must be monitored: Fukui
East Asia's growing economic and financial integration must be closely monitored to avoid negative side effects, said Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
Officials praise central bankers' collaboration
Central bankers and politicians across the globe offered swift and unanimous approval for Wednesday's concerted effort to inject liquidity in a bid to counter dogged interbank tensions.
Joint effort failing to counter interbank tension
Interbank rates stayed high and markets plummeted on Thursday in spite of the collective action launched by five of the most powerful central banks on Wednesday.
Cooperation can't get to root cause of crunch
The central banks' coordinated attempt to bring interbank rates down may alleviate liquidity pressures, but not the mistrust the lies at the core of the crunch, says Avinash Persaud, the chairman of Intelligence Capital, a financial advisory firm.
UK and Japan react to house prices, but not Fed
The Bank of England's and the Bank of Japan's monetary policy responds to house price changes, but the Federal Reserve's does not, research by the Riksbank finds.
Japanese lawmakers want $100 billion SWF
Japanese politicians from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party want to start a $100 billion sovereign wealth fund in order to improve returns on foreign exchange reserves.
Japan must not be too late in hiking rates
The Bank of Japan needs to ensure that the pace of rate hikes in Japan is not too slow to risk the economy overheating, says Miyako Suda, a board member at the central bank.
No clear answer on when Japan will raise rates
Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan, emphasised on Monday that uncertainty still clouds the central bank's rate outlook.
Unanimity required in subprime response: Noyer
Central banks needed to act unanimously to provide liquidity in the wake of the subprime turmoil because of the globalisation of interbank markets, Christian Noyer, the governor of Banque de France said on Tuesday.
Japan's Nakamura expects further US housing woe
Seiji Nakamura, a member of the Bank of Japan's rate-setting board, has said that the chances of economic slowdown in the United States are rising as the subprime market slumps further.
Asia-Pacific economies getting closer
The interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies has increased since the turn of the millennium, research published by the Bank of Japan finds.
Subprime limited Japanese monetary expansion
The Bank of Japan could have hiked rates if the United States subprime market had not crashed, said Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the chief cabinet secretary under Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister who resigned in September.
Japanese minutes reveal upbeat forecast
The minutes for the Bank of Japan's monetary policy committee meeting on 10 and 11 October present a positive outlook for the country's economy.
Growth slowdown to follow crunch: Japan's Fukui
Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan, said he expected global growth to fall to 5% this year as a result of the financial turmoil.
Model predicting instability in development
Charles Goodhart, a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, and Dimitrios Tsomocos, a lecturer in financial economics at Oxford University's Said Business School, are working on a model aimed at alleviating financial fragility.
Bank of Japan sticks to rate hold strategy
The Bank of Japan's rate-setting board decided to hold its benchmark overnight call rate at 0.5% for the ninth month in a row on Tuesday.
Scrap agencies' role in Basel: ex-UK rate-setter
Basel II needs to go back to the drawing board before it is even out of the blocks because of rating agencies' influence in the framework, says Willem Buiter, a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, now a professor at the…
Commodity prices warrant close attention: Japan
Central banks need to analyse data on commodity markets in order to more fully understand movements in global financial markets, according to research published by the Bank of Japan.
The only way is down
Avinash Persaud, the chairman of Intelligence Capital, a financial advisory firm, predicts the dollar will drop to $1.70 against the euro and $2.20 against sterling before central banks intervene.