Bank of Japan (BoJ)
Sarb’s Lesetja Kganyago on divergent monetary policies and new supervision
The governor of the South African Reserve Bank talks to Christopher Jeffery about navigating divergent monetary policies, South Africa’s new supervisory regime and nurturing new talent
BoJ’s Nakaso sees analytical challenge in gauging reforms
Policy board member says the design of standard models may be one reason why it is hard to tell whether Japan needs demand- or supply-side reform
BoJ moves to ‘ease stress’ in JGB market
More generous limits applied to securities lending facility designed to alleviate strains in the market for government bonds, though liquidity indicators do not show clear signs of tightening
BoJ report spells out reasons for dissent on negative rate
Board members had wide range of concerns over cutting rate below zero, including communication challenges, risk of financial instability and danger of triggering a global race to the bottom
Kuroda insists there is ‘no limit’ to monetary easing
BoJ governor calls combination of QQE and negative interest rates the ‘most powerful' framework in 'history of modern central banking’ and argues there is space for more easing if need be
BoJ slashes key rate below zero in contentious decision
Kuroda mulls further cuts as central bank intensifies battle against 'deflationary mind-set' in 5-4 vote; yen drops as inflation forecast revised down
Kuroda and Davos panel see little alternative to divergence
Bank of Japan governor warns a synchronised exit from easy policy in the major economies ‘could be worse’ than the ’staggered arrangement’ at present
BoJ research estimates impact of Olympics on growth
Authors suggest Tokyo Olympics will boost Japan’s annual real GDP growth by 0.2-0.3 percentage points from 2015-2018, as tourism and construction investment picks up
BoJ regional research divisions see ‘moderate’ recovery
Nine regions report the economy has ‘continued to grow’, often at a ‘moderate’ pace, in the past three months; some note impact from emerging markets slowdown on exports and production
BoJ paper: inflation expectations do not match target
Study of ‘dissonance’ in forecasts between economic agents and the central bank finds people only believe the BoJ will hit its target in the short to medium term – after that, inflation drops
BoJ board reveals miscommunication fears
New ‘summary of opinions’ reveals some on board concerned about giving impression stimulus is at its limit, while some see dangers to taking further action
Paper warns macro-prudential tools can have ‘blunt’ impact
Working paper sees potential for macro-prudential tools to have ‘aggregate’ impact, using ‘quantitative restriction’ deployed in Japan from 1970s onwards as an example
Bank of Japan tweaks QQE with maturity extension and new ETF purchases
BoJ will continue to buy 80 trillion yen worth of JGBs a year, but with slightly longer to run to maturity; announces new ETF programme to offset sales of old stocks
BoJ’s Kiuchi wants to reduce flow of QQE
Board member says reduced flow of asset purchases would help relieve ‘excessive pressure’ on the Japanese government bond market and make monetary policy more ‘sustainable and stable’
BoJ deputy says underlying inflation has ‘steadily’ improved
Kikuo Iwata says CPI inflation, excluding energy and fresh food, has been making a positive contribution of around 1% recently; discusses latest projections
Researchers examine impact of fiscal conditions on long-term rates in OECD
Working paper published by the Bank of Japan analyses 23 member states between 1980 to 2013; finds fiscal conditions impact rates in host of ways
High expectations could be holding Japanese inflation down, Shirai warns
Study of US and Japanese households reveals, somewhat counterintuitively, that high inflation expectations may be a factor behind lower actual inflation
Central bank 'silo culture' detracts from statistics, says ex-BoJ governor
Masaaki Shirakawa tells audience at Deutsche Bundesbank to expose economists to statistics and business contacts during their careers; Otmar Issing stresses value of good data
Challenging crosscurrents from divergent monetary policy
Divergent monetary policies around the world and challenges linked to China’s economic rebalancing present central bankers with some opportunities as well as numerous threats
Sarb’s Mminele fears a ‘lengthening drought’ in emerging market capital flows
Sarb deputy warns emerging market nations must maintain “utmost vigilance” as they are buffeted by the effects of divergent monetary policies and fears about the state of the Chinese economy
BoJ holds QQE fire but pushes back inflation forecast
Bank of Japan leaves asset purchase programme unchanged despite downward revision of outlook; central bank now predicts inflation target will be reached in second half of fiscal 2016
BoJ lifts lid on new approach to macro stress testing
Tests designed to measure system-wide impact of a ‘tail event’ on financial and economic stability, allowing comparisons over time; BoJ reveals underlying variables for first time
Bank of Japan launches updated payments platform
New BoJ-NET system goes live tomorrow, days after launch of China's CIPS platform and RMB surpasses yen as global payments currency
Kuroda unfazed by ‘somewhat stagnant developments’
Japan’s economy has been through a summer lull but the BoJ chief insists it will bounce back, with inflation set to rise as expectations shift and low oil prices pass through