Japan
Ex BOJ official says may need policy shift
A former deputy governor of the Bank of Japan has said the bank should consider changing its policy of pumping cash into the economy and holding rates at almost zero because deflation is easing.
Tanigaki says yuan revaluation won't push up yen
A revaluation of China's currency wouldn't immediately strengthen the yen, Japan's Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said on Thursday 12 May.
Japan's MOF may yield to BOJ on reserves
Japan's Ministry of Finance is expected to approve the Bank of Japan's plans to build up its reserves beyond the amount legally required, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.
Bank of Japan Minutes, 15 and 16 March
The Bank of Japan's minutes from its 15 and 16 March monetary policy meeting published on 9 May showed policy makers agreed they can keep the target for reserves available to lenders by changing the way the bank conducts money-market operations.
BOJ's Fukui says zero rate policy stays
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Sunday 8 May that the BOJ will maintain its fight against deflation despite favourable signs in the economy, but the current policy won't last indefinitely.
Tanigaki says Japan's economy recovering
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki reiterated on Thursday 5 May that the country's consumers are powering economic recovery and vowed to press on with fiscal reforms, although moderate deflation continued to pose a problem.
Tokyo urges China to act 'responsibly' on reserves
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said that Japan will manage its foreign-exchange reserves to help create stability rather than maximize profit and called on China and South Korea to also act "responsibly."
Asia set to boost currency attack defences
Japan, China and South Korea are set to join forces to bolster Asia's defences against currency speculators despite diplomatic tensions that had threatened to derail economic cooperation.
BoJ: Outlook for Economic Activity & Prices Apr 05
The Bank of Japan has published the English version of its April 2005 Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices report. The report says Japan's economy remains on a recovery trend, despite a recent pause due partly to adjustments in production and…
New book challenges role of the Bank of Japan
A new controversial theory that could transform the world of economics has been drawn up by a University of Southampton academic in a book described by Professor Charles Goodhart as "both a powerful and important book".
Fukui says policy may not change with positive CPI
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday the central bank would not necessarily abandon its ultra-easy credit policy once the core consumer price index stops falling.
A post-reflation monetary framework for Japan
Modifications to Japan's monetary policy framework will be needed as positive inflation resumes because the current monetary regime and operations are tailored to ending deflation, this IMF Working Paper says.
BOJ's Fukui on the bank's Semiannual Report
In a speech given on 31 March (published 22 April), Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said that although Japan's economy is at a pause, it is expected to continue recovering with the further expansion of overseas economies and progress in adjustment…
Does excess liquidity pose a threat in Japan?
This IMF Discussion Paper examines the effects of quantitative easing implemented by the Bank of Japan since early 2001, looking specifically at the impact on inflation expectations and real asset prices.
Tanigaki says economy still in moderate deflation
Japan is still in ``moderate deflation'' and policy makers should keep attempting to overcome it, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said on Tuesday 26 April.
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.