Japan
What's behind Japan's big surge?
Although the world's second-biggest economy is expected to announce record expansion, this article from BusinessWeek, published Monday 6 November, says it's mainly based on exports, and wages have not kept pace.
BOJ's Mizuno says gradual rate hikes needed
Bank of Japan policy board member Atsushi Mizuno said on Wednesday 8 November the central bank should gradually increase interest rates as long as recent weakness in economic indicators proves to be temporary.
BoJ likely to raise interest rates before year end
Speaking at a seminar in Tokyo on Tuesday 7 November, the governor of the Bank of Japan, Toshihiko Fukui, indicated that he would be in favour of raising interest rates in anticipation of higher inflation.
BOJ's Fukui on the outlook for Japan's economy
In the speech 'The outlook for Japan's economy and the conduct of monetary policy' given on 7 November Toshihiko Fukui, governor of the Bank of Japan, said exports have continued to increase against the background of the expansion of overseas economies.
Muto says BoJ monitoring corporate investment risk
Bank of Japan deputy governor Toshiro Muto told a parliamentary hearing on Thursday 2 November that the BoJ does not consider domestic corporate capital investment overheating now but will monitor it for upside risks to growth.
BoJ's Fukui says rate hike will be carefully timed
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 2 November that the central bank will take monetary policy action "not too early or too late," for a second rate hike in the current gradual credit-tightening cycle.
Proposed bill gives govt powers over BOJ staff
The Democratic Party of Japan aims to revise the Bank of Japan Law so that the government can dismiss the BOJ governor and other executives if they cause distrust in central bank policy management, Jiji Press said.
BoJ Outlook for economic activity & prices, Oct 06
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its October 2006 Outlook for economic activity and prices report on 1 November. In the report the BOJ kept to its stance that it will raise interest rates gradually, warning of the risk that very low…
Japan's Next-Generation RTGS
This paper from the Bank of Japan's Payment and Settlement Systems Department provides an overview of the RTGS project and discusses how it is expected to enhance the safety and efficiency of the settlement mechanism for large-value payments in Japan.
Reserve diversification - Danger for the dollar
According to this article published Tuesday 17 October by Daily FX, Russia has reignited the hot topic of reserve diversification and this time it is to the benefit of the Yen.
BOJ says regional economies expanding moderately
Japan's regional economies are all generally showing signs of moderate expansion although differences exist in growth rates between the various regions, the Bank of Japan said in a quarterly report on Thursday 19 October.
BOJ's Muto on recent conduct of monetary policy
In the speech 'Recent conduct of monetary policy' given on 21 July (published 16 Oct) Toshiro Muto of the Bank of Japan said for the effects of monetary policy to filter through into the economy both financial markets and financial institutions have an…
BOJ share view on modest expansion - minutes
According to minutes released Wednesday 18 October, all members of the Bank of Japan's policy board agreed that the domestic economy would continue to expand moderately.
BOJ denies report is to strengthen yen monitoring
The Bank of Japan has denied a newspaper report published Tuesday 17 October by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun without citing sources that it plans to enhance its monitoring of yen carry trade transactions by hedge funds and other investors.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, October 2006
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its October 2006 monthly report on Tuesday 17 October. In the report the BOJ stood by its previous assessment of the economy, saying it is expanding moderately, while deflationary pressure is easing.
Russia investing some reserves in Japan's yen
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has begun investing gold and foreign currency reserves in Japanese yen, CBR first deputy director Aleksei Ulyukayev told a conference on Monday 16 October.
Bank of Japan's Fukui not ruling out rate hike
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday 13 October he is not ruling out a possible interest rate increase before the end of the year, noting that the Japanese economy is expected to continue its recovery led by solid domestic demand and brisk…
Ito says Japan panel may discuss inflation target
Japan's key economic panel may discuss whether the Bank of Japan should adopt an inflation target to aid policy coordination with the government, new panel member Takatoshi Ito said Thursday 12 October in an interview.
Fukui donates Murakami profit to charity
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Wednesday 11 October he has donated to charity about 14 million yen returned so far by the Murakami Fund, whose founder has been indicted for alleged insider trading.
BOJ's Muto says policy shift will be slow
Bank of Japan deputy governor Toshiro Muto said Thursday 5 October that the BoJ will conduct monetary policy changes "slowly" by closely monitoring the economic and financial climate.
Japan can declare deflation over says Omi
Japan's Finance Minister Koji Omi said Tuesday 3 October that the country can declare that its battle with more than seven years of falling prices is over.
Japan's PM Abe expects BoJ to support growth
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament Monday 2 October that he expects the Bank of Japan to support growth through its policies as the economy continues to emerge from deflation.
New Japan MOF chief to be soft on BOJ
According to this article from Reuters, published Wednesday 27 September, newly appointed Japanese finance minister Koji Omi is unlikely to adopt his predecessor's stance on intervention in the Bank of Japan's monetary policy.
A case for inflation targets in the US and Japan
This article published by the American Enterprise Institute on Wednesday 27 September says that the world's leading central banks are struggling with what is happening to prices in their respective countries, and what they should do and say about it.