Japan
Share price rise benefits BOJ
A surge in Japanese share prices has seen the Bank of Japan's holdings of shares in business firms increase to a record 1,132.3 billion yen as of Sept. 30.
BoJ should not decide policy shift alone- Takenaka
The Bank of Japan alone should not decide on the timing of an end to its super-loose monetary policy, Kyodo News quoted Heizo Takenaka, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications as saying.
BoJ minutes show talk on best deflation gauge
The nine members of the Bank of Japan's policy board discussed whether the consumer price index is the best indicator to gauge an end to deflation, according to minutes of the meeting released Thursday 24 November.
Fukui says BOJ will decide policy shift alone
The Bank of Japan will take full responsibility in deciding when to end its ultra-easy monetary policy, while maintaining close contact with the government, BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui was quoted as saying on Wednesday 23 November.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, November 2005
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its November 2005 monthly report on 22 November. In its report the BOJ said exports have continued to increase moderately, industrial production is on an uptrend and corporate fixed investment continues…
Bank of Japan
According to this recent article, the government and Liberal Democratic Party officials should not be blatantly meddling in the Bank of Japan's policy. Although the BOJ needs to stay in closer connection with the fiscal authorities, it says.
Fukui doesn't rule out inflation target
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday that the possibility of Japan adopting an explicit inflation target as a monetary policy tool cannot be ruled out.
ECB's Issing on addressing global imbalances
In the speech 'Addressing global imbalances: the role of macroeconomic policy' given on 4 November Otmar Issing of the ECB said structural reforms in Europe and Japan may help to promote growth and resilience and are in the countries' own best domestic…
Koizumi vs Fukui trumps Bush vs Greenspan
This article published on Wednesday 16 November says that with each passing day, disagreements with the government over when the Bank of Japan should stop flooding the economy with cash seem to intensify.
Yosano downplays BOJ criticism
Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano downplayed criticism Tuesday 15 November within the government over the Bank of Japan's plan to explore an end to its ultra-loose monetary policy.
Comment: Japanese spat threatens recovery
Japanese policymakers face enormous challenges over the coming months as the country's economy edges towards normality. One of the key issues is how to coordinate the need for both fiscal and monetary tightening. Judging by recent developments, the…
Japan’s debt dilemma
After years of stagnation, Japan’s economy is at last stirring. Yet rising yields threaten new financial crises. Anthony Rowley reports.
Japan's Fukui on New Path of Growth
On 11 November Toshihiko Fukui, governor of the Bank of Japan, gave a speech entitled "Toward a New Path of Growth for the Japanese Economy" based on the Bank's October Outlook Report at the Kisaragi-kai meeting in Tokyo.
BoJ research paper on corporate earnings
A Bank of Japan research paper notes that corporate earnings have been greatly increasing in Japan over the last three years as business conditions continue to recover.
Bank of Japan's course might renew deflation
This article published on Friday 4 November says that while caution may be a good trait for central bankers when it comes to inflation, in the case of Japan, it's totally misplaced.
BOJ Outlook for economic activity & prices, Oct 05
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its October 2005 Outlook for economic activity and prices report on 1 November. In the report the BOJ forecast consumer prices would rise this fiscal year and next, and it said chances of a policy shift…
Japan's Yosano says stable long-term rate critical
Kaoru Yosano, Japan's newly appointed state minister for economic and fiscal policy, said that keeping long-term interest rates stable at low levels is vital to the success of fiscal and budget reforms.
Bank of Japan says end of deflation in sight
The Bank of Japan said on Monday 31 October that the seven-year period of deflation will end in the year to March 2006.
Comment: Japan sees return to normal
Japan's monetary policymakers yesterday delivered another instalment of what is becoming an increasingly confident message: after seven years of deflation, they expect prices to start rising again early next year.
Central bankers welcome Fed nominee
Following Ben Bernanke's nomination to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve, central bankers were out in force this week to welcome the move.
China forex reserves expected to surpass Japan's
China's forex reserves are expected to surpass Japan's this year as strong fund inflows and a burgeoning trade surplus make it the world's largest holder of foreign currency, state press reported.
Muto says BOJ to keep ultra-loose policy
Bank of Japan (BoJ) Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto said on Friday 21 October that the central bank will continue to help the resurgent economy by keeping its super-loose monetary policy.
Fukui: BOJ framework change not sign of tightening
A change in the Bank of Japan's current quantitative easing framework isn't a sign the central bank will shift to monetary tightening, BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 20 October.
Hosokawa says FX moves should reflect fundamentals
Japan's Ministry of Finance will closely watch foreign exchange rate movements and take action if needed, the ministry's top bureaucrat said Thursday 20 October.