Japan
Bank of Japan to revamp its website
With the aim of further enhancing web site usability, the Bank of Japan said on Tuesday 14 March it will renew its website effective from March 20, 2006.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, March 2006
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its March 2006 monthly report on Monday. In the report the BOJ left its upbeat assessment of the country's economic situation unchanged for the second straight month.
BoJ's Mizuno says rate hikes necessary - report
Atsushi Mizuno, a Bank of Japan policy board member, has said that raising interest rates is necessary to have some flexibility in managing monetary policy, Jiji Press reported.
Trichet praises BoJ's communication
The Bank of Japan's communication with financial markets was "very, very good," European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday 13 March. He also said independence was of "extreme importance" for the National Bank of Poland.
Bank of Japan takes big risk with policy change
According to this article published on Friday 10 March, by ditching its quantitative easing policy the Bank of Japan may be making one of the biggest mistakes in its history.
Comment: Unravelling the BoJ message
The Bank of Japan put an end to its "quantitative easing" policy last week. Although the timing was slightly ahead of expectations, the move itself was widely anticipated. Attention has now turned to unravelling the implications of the central bank's new…
Fukui: Zero rate policy can't last 'indefinitely'
Bank of Japan governor, Toshihiko Fukui, said on Friday 10 March that the central bank won't keep borrowing costs at zero forever.
Bank of Japan's statement on policy guidelines
Following is the full text of the Bank of Japan's statement on its change in monetary policy guidelines, Thursday 9 March.
Bank of Japan ends quantitative-easing policy
The Bank of Japan voted 7-1 to end its five-year-old super-easy monetary policy on Thursday 9 March at the end of a two-day meeting, but said it will maintain short-term interest rates near zero until its next meeting in April.
Japan's Abe praises Fukui's wisdom
Japan's top spokesman repeated the government's position on Wednesday 8 March that the Bank of Japan should exercise caution over scrapping its ultra-loose monetary policy.
What is Japan's quantitative easing?
With the possibility of the Bank of Japan's quantitative easing ending soon, this article published 7 March Tuesday looks at the policy in detail and asks, 'What comes next?'
OECD cautions Japan on policy move
The OECD cautioned Japan on Monday 6 March against a hasty move to end its zero interest-rate policy, saying the country was only slowly emerging from deflation.
Japan's Abe says BOJ should be transparent
Japan's top government spokesman said on Tuesday 7 March that it was important that the Bank of Japan's monetary policy is transparent.
Comment: Busy week for policymakers
This week is a busy one for monetary policymakers, with policy meetings taking place in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Here is a brief look at what's been on the mind of central bankers in these countries.
Comment: BoJ to end QE this week?
Friday's inflation data has added to feverish speculation that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will end its "quantitative easing" policy later this week. However, the departure from its zero-interest rate policy is still months off and the question of the…
Fukui says BOJ at 'important phase'
The Bank of Japan is at an "important phase" in assessing whether core consumer prices are on a stable rising trend, Governor Toshihiko Fukui said Monday 6 March.
Japan's debt straitjacket is out of style
Amid the euphoria over the end of deflation and a likely change in the Bank of Japan's policy, this recent article says it's easy to forget that Japan remains addicted to borrowed money.
Yosano not sure to give view at BOJ meeting
Japanese economy and banking minister Kaoru Yosano said on Friday 3 March that the Bank of Japan should decide when to end its quantitative easing policy and that he wasn't sure if the government would give its view at the BOJ's upcoming meetings.
BOJ set to end ultra-easy policy - report
Senior Bank of Japan officials have decided to submit a proposal to end the central bank's super-loose monetary policy at next week's BOJ board meeting, two Japanese news agencies reported on Friday 3 March.
Monetary policy by committee: Why and how?
In this De Nederlandsche Bank Working Paper, published February 2006, Alan Blinder discusses two questions: Why have so many central banks switched from individual to group decision making, and how?
Report says BOJ considering 'reference rate'
The Bank of Japan is considering setting a 'reference rate' on inflation to guide markets on its monetary policy intentions, Jiji Press and other media reported.
Adams says Japan's deflation fight almost over
A senior U.S. Treasury official indicated on Wednesday 1 March that Japan has nearly beaten deflation, and China should allow its currency to be more flexible.
Japan's LDP won't meddle with BOJ
One of Japan's ruling party lawmakers told Reuters on Wednesday 1 March that it is up to the Bank of Japan when it ends its ultra-easy policy so long as steps to contain bond yield spikes are in place.
Japan's economy minister rejects target idea
Japan's economy minister rejected the idea of inflation targets on Tuesday 28 February , calling on the Bank of Japan to instead adopt a flexible approach.