Japan
Japanese government upbeat on economy
The Japanese government gave a positive assessment on Japan's economy in its monthly report issued Monday, citing increased consumer spending and surging exports, especially to China.
Japan's Fukui: rough road until end of deflation
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 11 March that he saw a "rough road ahead" until the end of deflation despite signs of recovery in the Japanese economy, repeating the BOJ's commitment to an easing policy.
BOJ's Fukui supports Japan's forex intervention
Toshihiko Fukui said on Wednesday 10 March that he endorsed the Japanese government's foreign exchange intervention policy, saying it was in line with the Bank of Japan's own efforts to pull the economy out of deflation quagmire.
The ECB's new headquarters may bring image change
This article looks at the ECB's new HQ plans and examines other central banks' architecture. The Bank of Japan's main office looks suspiciously like the Bank of England which has a grand, imperial flavour, it says. Then there's the Federal Reserve with a…
Japan says Greenspan remarks not criticism
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday he does not see the warning by US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan against Japan's currency interventions as criticism of Japan's policies.
Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes
Two members of the Bank of Japan's Policy Board voted against the decision to ease policy at its January 19-20 meeting, the minutes showed. The two members said economic conditions made the move unnecessary and that it could cause misunderstanding in the…
BOJ holds monetary policy steady
The Bank of Japan said that its nine-member policy board, chaired by Governor Toshihiko Fukui, decided unanimously to leave its monetary policy unchanged at the end of a half-day scheduled meeting on Thursday 26 February.
IMF's Koehler supports Japan's FX intervention
Visiting the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Managing Director Horst Koehler said on Wednesday 25 February in Tokyo that he could understand Japan's currency intervention policy.
BOJ chief's coronation may be premature
This article looks at Bank of Japan governor, Toshihiko Fukui who was described recently as "the toast of Tokyo financial circles" and named central banker of the year by a magazine. If Fukui can succeed where none of his predecessors has over the last…
IMF's Koehler: Japan economic growth 'sustainable'
Speaking on Tuesday 24 February on a visit to Asia the head of the International Monetary Fund said that Japan can sustain its recent recovery and praised reforms in the nation's financial sector.
IMF managing director Horst Kohler to visit Asia
International Monetary Fund managing director, Horst Kohler, will travel to Japan and Korea in late February to meet with leaders and senior government officials.
BOJ's Iwata: Inflation at 1-2% would be stable
Deputy Governor of the bank of Japan Kazumasa Iwata said in an interview that the BOJ will probably keep interest rates near zero until consumer prices rise about 1 to 2 per cent.
'Toshihiko Goldilocks' world's top central banker
According to The Economist this week, Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui is the world's best central banker. Fukui was prised for steering monetary policy in the right direction while his counterparts at the ECB and Fed came in for criticism.
BOJ's Taya on recent economic developments
In a speech published on 19 February, Teizo Taya of the Bank of Japan said the Japanese economy has recently started to gain momentum for a cyclical recovery but the pace of recovery is moderate.
BOJ's Iwata says strong GDP won't change stance
The Bank of Japan's deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said on Wednesday 18 February that the BOJ's monetary easing policy will stay unchanged despite strong GDP figures, and added that deflation remains a stubborn problem.
New light on the Fed's history
Allan Meltzer finds the Fed at fault for the Great Depression, but he may not have the complete picture contends Tim Congdon.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, February 2004
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its February 2004 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments on 9 February. In its report the BOJ upgraded its view of Japanese exports, saying they were "increasing substantially." It…
BOJ says recovery on track, but yen concerns
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 5 February that the Japanese economy probably performed strongly in the last quarter of 2003, but he highlighted the risk posed by a strong yen following the BOJ's decision to keep monetary policy…
BOJ on shaky ground in anti-deflation fight
This article considers whether the Bank of Japan's credibility is at risk. It asks whether the BOJ's quantitative easing policy is based on solid logic or represents a very risky move by governor Fukui. If the economy starts growing strongly it could see…
OECD report worries on Japan deflation pressure
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a report on Tuesday 3 February on Japan suggesting that deflation remains a big problem despite the return to growth.
Tanigaki says Japan could increase gold holdings
Japan's Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said in response to a parliamentary question that Japan may consider increasing its gold reserves to bring them more into line with levels elsewhere.
IMF deputy Sugisaki returns to Japan
IMF deputy managing director Shigemitsu Sugisaki, 62, is leaving his post. He was joined at a farewell dinner in Washington by some former colleagues, including Stanley Fischer.
BOJ's Muto says weak dollar behind easing
Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan Toshiro Muto said on Friday 30 January that the BOJ needed to pay attention to the effects of a weak dollar and that those effects were in mind when it decided to further ease monetary policy recently.
Japan's deflation improving, not ending: Fukui
Japan's deflationary trend is easing but there no sign exists yet of it ending entirely, Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Friday 30 January.