Japan
Fukui: 'I am very very sorry'
Bank of Japan chief Toshihiko Fukui apologised to the nation Tuesday 20 June and said he would take a 30% pay cut for six months. He also said the bank has set up a committee to review rules for its officials' assets.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, June 2006
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its June 2006 monthly report on Monday 19 June. In the report the BOJ maintained its upbeat assessment of the nation's economy, citing rising production, capital investment and personal spending.
Poll result says Fukui should quit
Nearly half of the respondents to a poll by Kyodo News Service said Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui should step down from his position, the news agency reported.
BOJ's Noda sees turning point for economy
Tadao Noda, the most recent member of the Bank of Japan's policy board, said on Monday 19 June that Japan's economy and monetary policy are at a "turning point."
BOJ urged to strengthen rules
Japanese ruling and opposition lawmakers called on the Bank of Japan on Sunday 18 June to introduce asset disclosure rules following the BOJ chiefs admissions to holding a scandal-tainted investment.
Fukui earned 'some million yen' from Murakami fund
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday 16 June that he made millions of yen in profit from his investment in the fund of Yoshiaki Murakami that prompted some calls for his resignation.
Bank of Japan scandal last thing Japan needs
According to this article by Bloomberg, published Friday 16 June, the Bank of Japan risks getting in the way of an economic recovery again, with a political scandal.
Fukui says reserve level reduction nearly complete
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 15 June that the reduction in the level of banks' current account reserves at the BOJ is nearly complete.
Comment: Fukui's gaffe
Bank of Japan governor, Toshihiko Fukui, faces an uncertain future following his admission of a supposedly unethical investment. Even though prime minister Junichiro Koizumi immediately jumped to Fukui's defence, pundits are already saying the incident…
Fukui says BoJ will 'carefully watch' markets
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday 13 June that the central bank will "carefully watch" the impact of financial markets on the real economy.
Koizumi: 'No problem' on Fukui quit calls
Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi suggested Tuesday 13 June that there are no plans to replace Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui over his investment in the fund founded by Yoshiaki Murakami, who was arrested on suspicion of insider trading.
BOJ's Iwata sees chance of sustained growth
Bank of Japan deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said on Thursday 8 June that Japan's economy was moving from a period of deflation to normal growth.
BOJ urged to maintain zero rate policy
Japan's government has urged the central bank to maintain its zero interest rates policy in order not to choke off the country's economic recovery.
Interview with BOJ's financial markets head
In an interview with Reuters published on Monday 5 June, Hiroshi Nakaso, director-general of the Bank of Japan's financial markets department said the BOJ is not targeting a particular level of reserves as it draws down excess liquidity from the banking…
BOJ's Muto says no set timetable on rate rise
Bank of Japan deputy governor Toshiro Muto said on Monday 5 June the central bank has no timetable for raising interest rates.
Hosokawa says imbalances unlikely as G8 topic
Japan's top financial bureaucrat said Monday 5 June that the issue of global economic imbalances is unlikely to be a major discussion topic during the meeting of G8 finance ministers Friday and Saturday.
BoJ's Muto to visit Washington June 4-8 for IMC
Toshiro Muto, deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, will visit Washington D.C. to attend the International Monetary Conference, the central bank said Friday 2 June.
Getting to the bottom of foreign currency reserves
According to this recent article from The Japan Times, the news about sharp increases in foreign reserves held by emerging economies has been big news in Japanese papers.
Central bankers to hold panel meeting
Top central bankers from Europe, Japan and the United States will participate in a panel meeting in Washington on Monday 5 June.
Monetary policy conduct of the Swiss National Bank
The Bank of Japan Working Paper "Monetary policy conduct of the Swiss National Bank: the experience from 2001 to 2004" published May 2006 investigates the monetary policy conduct of the SNB during the period 2001 to 2004 and the accompanying financial…
BoJ's Fukui on quantitative easing
In a speech given on 1 June Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the central bank's quantitative easing policy, which lasted for nearly five years till March 2006, helped in bringing recovery back to the deflation-hit Japanese economy.
BoJ's Haru urges caution on rate moves
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 1 June that the central bank need not end its zero interest policy too fast, and must avoid surprising markets.
BOJ's Fukui sees slow rate rises
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank would raise interest rates slowly and would proceed without focusing on one particular economic indicator, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday 1 June.
Russian reserves hit all time high
Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves, boosted by record world oil prices, have touched an all-time high of $243.3 billion, the central bank said on Thursday 1 June.