Japan
Fischer trips to raise support for Israel to OECD
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer is travelling to Germany and Japan this week to increase support for Israel's bid to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development as a full member, the central bank said.
Ito says BoJ must explain policy better
A member of the Japanese government's top economic council said on Monday 5 February in an interview with Reuters the Bank of Japan should promote accountability and transparency in its monetary policy as it has not been doing a good job in communicating…
'Slim' chance of return to deflation says Fukui
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told parliament on Friday that the risks of a return to deflation were low for the world's second largest economy.
BoJ to discontinue its Quarterly Bulletin
The Bank of Japan said Friday 26 January it will stop publishing its Quarterly Bulletin from now on due to increased use of the internet. The last issue was the November 2006 edition, the BoJ said in a statement.
The Bank of Japan's big mistake
According to this article by Stephen Roach, published on Friday 26 January by Money Week, the Bank of Japan has dealt a stunning blow to central bank independence.
Ota says BoJ, govt share same view on economy
Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister Hiroko Ota said Thursday 25 January the Bank of Japan and the government share the same view on the state of the world's second-largest economy.
Interview with Bank of Japan's Fukui
In an interview with Reuters, published on Wednesday 24 January, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said he is not sure how quickly board members can agree on lifting rates.
Rates should rise if confident, says BoJ's Suda
The Bank of Japan needs to avoid spending too much time examining data and policy makers should raise interest rates as long as they're confident in the outlook for the economy, BoJ board member Miyako Suda said in a speech Thursday 25 January.
BoJ policymakers say rate rise is likely
A few Bank of Japan policymakers said the central bank should raise interest rates in January if it were to gain confidence about the economic outlook, according to minutes of the policy board's December meeting, which were released Tuesday 23 January.
IMF chief calls for flexible yuan, warns BoJ
The head of the International Monetary Fund said Monday 22 January that greater flexibility in China's exchange rate will help Asian economies cope with potential risks from sharp capital inflows.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, January 2007
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its January 2007 monthly report on Monday 22 January. In the report the BOJ left its assessment of economic and financial developments largely unchanged, saying the economy continues to expand moderately.
Fukui on future challenges for Asian economies
In a speech given on 22 January Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan called for the monetary authorities in Asia to forge closer links to limit the effect of massive money flows into the region.
Why did the Bank of Japan freeze interest rates?
According to this article published by MoneyWeek on Monday 22 January, the Bank of Japan's decision last week to hold interest rates steady has unleashed a storm relating to its independence from political pressure.
Fukui says BoJ not bowing to pressure
The Bank of Japan will try to change interest rates slowly but has no timetable for such moves at present, central bank governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 18 January.
Theater of the absurd surrounds BOJ's decision
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Wednesday 17 January, the Bank of Japan may be about to lose even more of the credibility is has worked to restore.
Kyodo says BOJ unlikely to raise rates this week
The Bank of Japan is unlikely to raise interest rates at this week's policy meeting, Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday 16 January, quoting "sources familiar with the matter".
Tarisa says BoT created 'uncertainty'
The Bank of Thailand deliberately created "uncertainty" in the foreign exchange market to drive out speculators from Japan and the U.S. when it imposed curbs on investment, governor Tarisa Watanagase told Bloomberg in an interview Monday 15 January.
Economy minister calls on BoJ to hold rates steady
Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister Hiroko Ota on Monday 15 January called for the Bank of Japan to hold interest rates unchanged ahead of its meeting this week.
BoJ's Fukui says economy expanding moderately
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui reiterated Friday 12 January that the economy is still growing gradually and that he expects the recovery to continue.
Bank of Japan seen leaning toward raising rates
The Bank of Japan is leaning towards raising interest rates at next week's policy board meeting, with consumer spending remaining firm and worries of a US economic slowdown receding, the Nikkei reported Friday 12 January, without citing sources.
BoJ's Hayakawa says economy still expanding
The Japanese economy is expanding moderately and inventory adjustment in the information technology sector appears to be temporary, a senior official of the Bank of Japan said Wednesday 10 January.
BoJ's Muto says rate hikes support growth
A hawkish monetary policy by the Bank of Japan would be consistent with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's emphasis on pro-growth policies, central bank deputy governor Toshiro Muto told the Nikkei daily on Wednesday 3 January.
PBOC's Wu expects Fed rate cuts in 2007
The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates in 2007 and that will reinforce the dollar's downwards bias and the yuan's tendency to rise, a senior Chinese central banker was reported by the Financial News as saying.
BoJ's Fukuma on economic & financial developments
In the speech 'Recent economic and financial developments in Japan' given on 24 November Toshikatsu Fukuma of the Bank of Japan said Japan's economy continues to experience a sustained period of moderate expansion with domestic and external demand…