Japan
BoJ confirms economy is recovering
In its November monthly report released on Friday 21 November, the Bank of Japan confirmed that the economy is recovering "gradually", according to the Business Times. Although consumption remains weak, the BoJ said "Exports are increasing and capital…
Opening date of BOJ Representative Office, Beijing
The Bank of Japan will open its representative office in Beijing on 18 December 2003. As a result, there will be multiple BOJ representative offices in Asia as well as the Americas and Europe. The bank said it hopes this network of representative offices…
Bank of Japan's Ueda reiterates ultra-loose policy
Bank of Japan policy board member Kazuo Ueda said in a speech reported by AFX that the BoJ could maintain its ultra-loose monetary policy even after deflation is overcome, if it is judged necessary to maintain the policy.
Fukui on the Japanese economy and Asia
In a speech on 'The Japanese Economy and Asia' given on 26 September, Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said there is an increasing probability that the Bank's standard scenario released in April, a virtuous cycle of recovery in which an increase in…
Executives face pay cut at Bank of Japan
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said last Tuesday that it will cut annual pay for its executives for fiscal 2003 by 2.9% from the previous year, Kyodo News reported. The decision follows a cut by the same margin in fiscal 2003 pay for special government…
Fukui-Further enhancing Japan's financial services
In the speech 'Toward the Further Enhancement of Financial Services in Japan' given on 4 November Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan concluded by saying that, as Japan's efforts to enhance financial services bear fruit, I am confident that there will…
Fukui on the current state of the Japanese economy
In a speech given on 1 October, Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said that although it is unprecedented for the central bank to purchase asset-backed securities in that it directly accepts the credit risk pertaining to private-sector debt, the bank…
Bank of Japan maintains current monetary policy
The Bank of Japan said in a statement released on Friday 31 October after its Policy Board meeting that it would continue with its ultra-loose policy aimed at keeping the overnight loan rate at virtually zero, according to AFX Europe.
BoJ expects deflation to continue into 2005
In its twice-yearly economic report released Friday the Bank of Japan said that it expects deflation to continue through to March 2005, according to AFX Asia. "Consumer prices are forecast to continue posting small declines in this and next fiscal year …
BoJ's Fukui on Restructuring Japan's Economy
In the speech 'Restructuring Japan's Economy' given on 28 October Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said financial institutions need to strengthen their risk-taking ability. At the same time, we require a framework in which the optimum allocation of…
Fukui chief vows to fight deflation
Toshihiko Fukui, governor of the Bank of Japan, said on Tuesday 28 October that he sees no immediate end to Japan's deflation problem, according to AFP, but he pledged to continue the struggle with high levels of liquidity. "Just because we have a…
BOJ in negative net worth if JGB yields jump-Ueda
BoJ Policy Board member Kazuo Ueda said in a speech reported by Reuters that if the value of Japanese Government Bonds was to drop 10 per cent the Bank of Japan will be in negative net worth. Ueda warned of growing risks to the BoJ's balance sheet.
Koizumi aide raps BOJ for deflation failure
Former vice-minister for international affairs at Japan's finance ministry Haruhiko Kuroda on Sunday 26 October launched a strong attack on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) for failing to perform its legal duty of halting deflation, according to The Business…
Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 11 and 12 September 2003, released 16 October. Members agreed that economic activity still continued to be virtually flat as a whole, although signs of improvement had been observed in such areas…
Fukui, local BOJ chiefs voice concern over yen
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Monday October 20 that the central bank will closely watch developments in overseas economies and financial markets, The Japan Times reports. Fukui also said the BOJ is firmly committed to maintaining its…
Japan's economy minister: how to end deflation
Economy minister Heizo Takenaka has said that Japan's deflation could be overcome if the Bank of Japan can increase money supply growth and the government were able to increase demand through deregulation and clean up the banking system, according to the…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, October 2003
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments, October 2003, on 17 October. The foundation for a gradual recovery in Japan's economy is being laid, as the environment for exports and…
Bank of Japan upgrades October assessment
The Bank of Japan raised its assessment of the economy for the second month running Tuesday but warned that a too strong yen could hurt exports, according to Associated Press. "The foundation for a gradual recovery in Japan's economy is being laid, as…
BOJ's Hirano sees good chance of recovery lasting
Bank of Japan Assistant Governor Eiji Hirano said on Monday 13 October at a summit meeting in in Singapore that there is a greater chance that recovery can be sustained this time compared to the past two cases. However, he acknowledged that risks of a…
Deflation, markets remain risks for Japan-Takenaka
Japanese Economics and Finance Minister Heizo Takenaka said on Sunday 12 October that the purpose of foreign exchange intervention was mostly to smooth out yen volatility, according to a report by Reuters. While the economy is recovering it remains…
Japan shows quantitative easing works- Fed's Poole
St Louis Fed president William Poole said in the latest edition of the Regional Economist publication, reported by Reuters, that "Japan showed us that a central bank has more than one tool to work with", although many thought Japan had run out of…
Bank of Japan eases monetary policy
The Bank of Japan voted to ease monetary policy slightly on Friday 10 October. according to a report by CNN Money. In an unexpected move the BoJ raised the ceiling of its account balance target by two trillion yen ( $18.33 billion ) to a range of 27…
BOJ's Iwata repeats price stability target call
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Kazumasa Iwata said Wednesday "I think a rise in the CPI of around 1-2 percent would mean prices have stabilised", Reuters reported. Iwata's proposals have been rejected by the other eight members of the BOJ's Policy Board,…
Fukui sees lights of hope for the Japanese economy
In a speech to the National Securities Industry Convention given on 18 September, Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the Japanese economy as well as the financial system is still burdened with a number of difficulties. Nevertheless, lights of hope…