Japan
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.
Fukui : easing policy will boost money supply
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Tuesday 27 January that BOJ policies will feed through to growth in Japan's money supply and help the country escape from deflation.
Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 15 and 16 December 2003, released 23 January. The bank's Policy Board agreed that the currency market needed close monitoring although some members felt the economic impact of the high yen had…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, January 2004
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its January 2004 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments on 22 January. It raised its assessment of the economy, saying strong exports are boosting output and beginning to filter…
Tanigaki to explain Japan's monetary policy at G7
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said on Friday 23 January that he will give an accurate picture of Japan's fiscal and monetary policies at the upcoming Group of Seven finance ministers' meeting.
Rapid yen moves will be acted on - Tanigaki
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said at the weekend that Japan will keep acting against rapid and speculative moves in foreign exchange markets.
BOJ makes changes to policy guidelines
At the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting held on Tuesday 20 January, the bank decided to change the main operating target in the guideline for money market operations.
Fukui vows to fight deflation as credit eased
Bank of Japan chief Toshihiko Fukui on Tuesday 21 January renewed his pledge to fight deflation with sustained credit easing while saying the risk of a high yen curtailing the economic recovery has not increased.
Japan raises view on economy
Japan raised its assessment of its economy on Monday 19 January, saying strong exports are boosting output and beginning to filter through to consumption.
BOJ bought Y1.9100 trn shares from banks to 10 Jan
The Bank of Japan said on Wednesday it had bought a total of 1.9100 trillion yen ($17.98 billion) of shares held by Japanese banks by January 10 under its programme aimed at reducing the banks' exposure to stock market volatility.