Japan
Nakahara on the challenges facing Japan's economy
SPEECH - In the speech 'The Challenges Facing Japan's Economy and the Monetary Policy Response' Shin Nakahara of the Bank of Japan said Japan must rebuild itself, taking full advantage of its accumulated stock. He describes Japan's current problem saying…
Takenaka says govt expectations of BOJ 'very high'
Japan's Financial Services and Economics Minister Heizo Takenaka said on Tuesday that the government is working hard to overcome deflation and its expectations for the Bank of Japan's policies are "very high".
Bank of Japan: Losing independence?
ARTICLE - This article looks at the recent initiatives by the Bank of Japan but says the BOJ's independence may be slipping as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and members of his economic team want a greater say in BOJ policy-making.
Call for Bank of Japan to adopt inflation target
The Japanese government will urge the Bank of Japan to adopt an inflation target, an influential member of the ruling Liberal Democratic party said Sunday. The comments follow those of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda who said last week that an…
Report to show Japan's banks failing capital test
A comprehensive study of Japan's financial system being carried out by the International Monetary Fund will reveal that the capital adequacy of a number of Japanese banks falls below international requirements, according to a former IMF economist.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, December 2002
REPORT - The Bank of Japan published its Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments, December 2002, on 19 December. In its report the Bank says "Japan's economy has stabilised as a whole, but there is still substantial uncertainty…
Bank of Japan says recovery not expected soon
The Bank of Japan Wednesday left its core economic assessment for December unchanged from November in its December monthly report, repeating that Japan's economy has bottomed but there is strong uncertainty over the economy's future course.
BOJ keeps monetary policy steady
The Bank of Japan kept its monetary policy unchanged on Tuesday but stepped up its support for the funding of small businesses in an effort to prevent banking sector paralysis from causing an economic crisis.
Race for BOJ job heats up, private sector favoured
The article suggests that Nobuyuki Nakahara, a recent member of the Bank of Japan's policy board may be in line for the job of governor when Hayami steps down early next year. Nakahara was noted for favouring radical easing policies.
Bank of Japan Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Announcement of the Monetary Policy Meeting, 17 December.
BoJ needs deflation fighter: Koizumi
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi wants the replacement for Bank of Japan governor Masaru Hayami to focus on combating the economy's persistent deflation.
Interview - Toshihiko Fukui, former dep gov of BoJ
INTERVIEW - The Bank of Japan will maintain a bias toward easing monetary policy to avert any concerns of tightening liquidity in financial markets and promote expectations of a stable financial environment, a front-runner in the race to be the next BOJ…
Bank of Japan optimistic in Tankan report
The business outlook among Japanese companies improved in the October-December quarter, although that sentiment is not expected to last in months ahead, according to a central bank survey released Friday by the Bank of Japan.
BOJ buys Y71bn worth of stocks from banks
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) had purchased 71.16 billion yen worth of stocks held by commercial banks as of Tuesday 10 December on a delivery-completed basis, the central bank said in a report released Thursday.
Japan's Koizumi: Need deflation-fighter at BOJ
INTERVIEW - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday the nation needs a bold deflation-fighter to lead the central bank when the current governor's term ends in March, underscoring the concerns falling prices continue to eat away at the…
Hayami - Toward further capital market development
SPEECH - In the speech 'Toward Further Development of Capital Markets To Support Smooth Corporate Finance' Masaru Hayami of the Bank of Japan said he was concerned that healthy firms may be starved of funds as banks respond to a new government drive to…
Japan revises growth up but recovery wanes
The Japanese government on Monday marginally revised third-quarter gross domestic product upwards, but a deluge of weak economic indicators released concurrently added to the mounting evidence that Japan's shallow recovery has started to wane.
BOJ's Hayami wants increased securitisation
Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami repeated Monday that policy in Japan should be focused on structural reform of the country's fragile financial sector, which he said is muting the impact of easy monetary policy.
Japan's Takanaka says inflation defeat difficult
Japan's Economy Minister Heizo Takenaka kept up the pressure on the Bank of Japan Thursday to further ease monetary policy. But, as we have previously reported, the Bank is keen to add further stimulation with board member Hidehiko Haru saying last week…
Hayami - Monetary policy a kind of targeting
Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami Thursday dismissed calls for the BOJ to set a target for inflation, saying the central bank didn't have the tools to make such a target credible. A senior politician Taku Yamasaki, said on Wednesday, 'at the very…
BOJ Suda - Need to watch impact of loan clean-up
As the Bank of Japan begins its stock purchase scheme Miyako Suda said in a speech that how bad loans are dispersed and the impact on the economy must be watched carefully.
BOJ to start releasing data on stock buying policy
The Bank of Japan said on Tuesday it will begin periodically releasing data on its purchases of shares from banks, a move that could indicate the effectiveness of its efforts to stabilise the financial system. The Bank began its unprecedented policy on…
Takenaka proposal on bad loans faces scrutiny
With the timetable for measures aimed at addressing Japan's bad loan problem announced last Friday, Heizo Takenaka said the proposals would be rigorously implemented.
Japan begins stock purchase policy
The Bank of Japan's programme to buy shares from the country's ailing banking sector officially started Friday, but the bank is being coy about any actual purchases.