Japan
Tanigaki says inflation targeting debate important
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said Friday 22 April that it would be important for the Bank of Japan to consider inflation targeting as a monetary policy option once the country overcomes deflation.
BoJ's Fukui sees economy recovering
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 21 April that the world's second-largest economy remained on a recovery track in spite of cautious business sentiment.
MOF's Asakawa says Japan won't diversify reserves
According to Japanese Ministry of Finance official Masatsugu Asakawa, Japan doesn't plan to change the percentage of US dollars in its $838 billion official reserve assets, the world's largest.
Japan's fin min says G7 leaders to discuss oil
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said on Friday 15 April that G7 financial leaders are expected to study measures to curb high oil prices, including ways to change industrial structures of oil-consuming nations.
IMF sees slower economic growth in Japan
Japan's economy will show slower growth in 2005 but should gather steam as the year progresses, according to the IMF's World Economic outlook Wednesday, urging the Bank of Japan to keep monetary policy loose until the deflation threat is removed.
Tanigaki: G7 likely to keep same forex message
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said high oil prices are expected to top the agenda when G7 finance chiefs meet in Washington later this week.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, April 2005
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its April 2005 monthly report on 8 April. In the report the BOJ left its monthly assessment of the nation's economy unchanged from the previous month but said exports are starting to pick up, and…
BoJ's new board member urges gradual policy shift
Kiyohiko Nishimura, who joined the Bank of Japan's nine-member policy board on Friday, told a press conference that the central bank needs to move slowly in altering its current super-loose credit policy.
Fukui: Reserve target adjustment isn't tightening
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told lawmakers Thursday 7 April a ``numerical adjustment'' in the amount of funds the Bank of Japan makes available to lenders wouldn't mean the central bank is tightening monetary policy.
Fukuma on recent economic developments in Japan
In the speech 'Recent economic and financial developments in Japan' given on 24 February (published 29 March) Toshikatsu Fukuma of the Bank of Japan said the central bank should maintain the current target of 30-35 trln yen at least until April, when the…
BOJ reports economy extends recovery
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui told a news conference Wednesday 6 April that a decline in business confidence doesn't alter the bank's view that Japan's economy is maintaining a recovery.
Muto on Japan's payment and settlement systems
In the speech 'Japan's payment and settlement systems and the Bank of Japan' given on 3 December (published 24 March) Toshiro Muto of the Bank of Japan said generally, reform of payment and settlement systems in any country does not happen until it…
BOJ's Takenaka says economic outlook unchanged
The Japanese government said its view of the economy remains unaltered following the publication of the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey which showed confidence among large manufacturers unexpectedly fell for a second quarter.
Fukui sees return to growth for Japan soon
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told parliament that the nation's economy should return to sustained growth soon.
Japan, France fin mins concerned over weak dollar
The Japanese and French finance ministers expressed concern about the weak US dollar and agreed to bring the issue before Group of Seven finance ministers meeting in April, officials said in Tokyo.
BOJ fails to sell planned funds
The Bank of Japan failed to drain a planned amount of funds in its money market operation on Thursday 24 March for the first time in some 49 months, the central bank said.
Bond yield gains should reflect Japan's economy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Wednesday 23 March the central bank does not want increases in bond yields that aren't underpinned by the performance of the economy.
Bank of Japan Minutes, 16 and 17 February
The Bank of Japan's minutes from its 16 and 17 February monetary policy meeting published on Tuesday 22 March revealed that the policy board again discussed changing a central plank of its policy - the target for commercial banks' reserve deposits.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, March 2005
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its March 2005 monthly report on 18 March. In the report the BOJ said exports were "starting to pick up", an improvement on its description of "flat" exports in February.
Former BOJ's Taya says current policy should stay
A former Bank of Japan policymaker told a press conference on Thursday 17 March that the central bank should adhere to its current "quantitative" credit-easing policy until Japan's economic recovery is achieved.
BOJ raises assessment of economy
The Bank of Japan slightly raised its assessment of the economy on Wednesday 16 March, saying in its latest monthly report that industrial production is flat, rather than weak - the first upgrade since last June.
Japan's Tanigaki says deflation end needed
The Bank of Japan should take "effective measures" to end deflation, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said on Tuesday 15 March at a press conference in Tokyo.
Koizumi: Japan must consider diversifying reserves
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Thursday 11 March that his country "in general" needs to consider diversifying its foreign currency reserves, the world's largest.
Tanigaki says BOJ and gov't want deflation end
The Japanese government and the Bank of Japan share the same view on interest rates and both want to end deflation, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday 8 March.