Japan
Japan revises outlook for economic growth up
The Japanese government on Wednesday revised its forecast for economic growth for the fiscal year through March 2005 upward to 3.5 percent.
OECD urges Japan to keep up regulatory reform
Regulatory reform is already well under way in Japan but should be continued and strengthened if Japan is to reap all the opportunities of its current recovery, according to a new OECD report.
OECD chief to visit Japan and discuss economy
The secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Donald Johnston, will start a five-day visit to Japan on Tuesday 20 July for talks with Cabinet ministers and business leaders on issues such as Japanese economy and…
Japan's former economy minister wins seat
Former Japanese economy minister Heizo Takenaka won his first parliamentary election this week and said on Monday 12 July that he aims to get Japan's growth back on track.
BoJ's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes, 14/15 June
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 14 and 15 June Monetary Policy Meeting on 16 July. Members said that many economic indicators released since the previous meeting were relatively strong for Japan, and agreed that the economy continued to…
Japan 'half way' to overcoming deflation
While deflation has shown signs of easing in Japan, rising raw material prices still haven't affected consumer goods, signalling that price declines will continue, Japan's Cabinet Office said in its white paper on the economy.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, July 2004
The Bank of Japan released the English version of its monthly report on 15 July. Japan's economy continues to recover, with the increase in production and corporate profits exerting positive effects on employment, the central bank said.
Fukui on the Bank of Japan's Semiannual Report
In a speech concerning the Bank's Semiannual Report on Currency and Monetary Control given on 9 June (published 8 July), Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said Japan's economy is expected to continue recovering as it gains further momentum gradually…
Japan: FATF recommendations, anti-money laundering
Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes on the FATF Recommendations for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism for Japan. Prepared by a staff team of the IMF as a background documentation of the periodic consultation with…
Fukui on the state of Japan's economy
In a speech given on 5 July, Toshihiko Fukui, governor of of the Bank of Japan said that Japan's ongoing economic recovery is becoming broad-based as a result of structural adjustments.
Semiannual Report on Currency and Monetary Control
The Bank of Japan has published a summary of its semiannual report on currency and monetary control for the second half of fiscal 2003. Japan's economic activity started to recover gradually in the second half of fiscal 2003 (Oct 03-Mar 04) led by an…
Economy adjusting, says BOJ's Fukui
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Monday 5 July that the country's economy is nearing recovery from the prolonged slump that followed the bursting of Japan's speculative bubble in the early 1990s.
Hosokawa calls for flexible BOJ policy
Koichi Hosokawa, who on Friday 2 July took over as the top career official at the Ministry of Finance in Japan, said he wants the Bank of Japan to implement "flexible" monetary policy amid a rise in long-term bond yields.
Fukui at BOJ representative office centenary event
In a speech given on 29 June at the reception for the centenary of the Bank of Japan Representative Office in London, Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the imminent objective for the Bank of Japan to open an office in London 100 years ago was to…
BOJ's Taya says recovery gaining momentum
Japan's economic recovery is "clearly" gaining momentum, according to Teizo Taya, a Bank of Japan policy board member. But he said it was still "not appropriate" for the BOJ to change its current policy at the moment.
BoJ's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes, 19/20 May
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 19 and 20 May Monetary Policy Meeting on 30 June. Many members said that the Bank was conducting monetary policy in accordance with the commitment based on the CPI. Some members said that it was becoming…
BOJ: Japan may be moving to US model
Japan's economy may be moving toward a U.S.-style pattern of consumer-led growth, said Hideo Hayakawa, director-general at the Bank of Japan's research and statistics department.
Koizumi supports Japan's zero rates
Japanese five-year notes rose for a second day on Wednesday 30 June after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said conditions are not yet right for the Bank of Japan to end its policy of keeping interest rates close to zero.
BoJ's Fukui says too soon to end easy money policy
Bank of Japan chief Toshihiko Fukui said on Friday 25 June that it is too early to discuss ending the central bank's ultra-loose credit policy.
Japanese reform efforts praised by IMF's Rato
The new head of the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday praised Japan's recent economic reforms saying the reforms had paid off and the future can be even brighter.
Bank of Japan to be restructured
The Bank of Japan faces major restructuring in July, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Tuesday, with reforms to personnel policies and salaries intended to increase efficiency.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, June 2004
According to the Bank of Japan's June Monthly Report the Japanese economy is "gathering strong momentum" and continues to recover, increased production and corporate profits are having a positive effect on employment, it said.
BOJ's Muto says closely watching long term rates
The Bank of Japan is closely watching rising long-term interest rates to see if they affect the world's second-largest economy, Toshiro Muto, one of the bank's two deputy governors, said in a speech.
Rapid rate rise not good for economy - Tanigaki
Japan's Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said a rapid rise in long-term interest rates may harm Japan's economic recovery, Jiji Press reported.