Japan
RBA says Australia's prospects pretty good
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia said on Monday there were good reasons to be confident about the domestic economy over 2002, but warned that Japan remained the biggest risk to a global recovery.
Bush gaffe hits yen
US - A remark by US President George W Bush about "devaluation" in Japan has caused confusion in the currency markets.
Speech by Christian Noyer of the ECB
SPEECH - Noyer called the speech 'Success factors of the euro and the ECB' and said the euro is undervalued against the dollar, but added it was "very difficult" to tell when the euro would rebound, 13 February.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report - English text
REPORT - Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments from the Bank of Japan, February 2002. Full English text available 13 February.
BoJ report paints bleak picture of Japan's economy
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan on Tuesday painted a bleak picture of the world's second largest economy in its monthly report, pointing to lower capital investment, weak private consumption and a harsh lending environment for small companies seeking to raise…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report
REPORT - Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments from the Bank of Japan, February 2002.
Japan acts to end recession
JAPAN - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has asked his government minister to hammer out a series of economic reforms aimed at lifting Japan out of recession.
Bank of Japan - Monetary Policy Meetings
NEWS RELEASE - Monetary Policy announcement from the Bank of Japan, 8 February.
G7 to discuss world recovery
CANADA - Efforts to end the world economic downturn and measures to lift the weak Japanese yen will be on the agenda when finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of Seven industrial nations meet in Ottawa, Canada.
Japanese go for gold
FEATURE - Fears are growing again about the health of the Japanese financial system.
Govt not mulling asking BOJ for further easing now
JAPAN - The government isn't considering asking the Bank of Japan to take additional monetary easing measures, top government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
Japan ready to intervene in markets
JAPAN - Japan's government said yesterday it was prepared to take "decisive action" to prevent a further fall in the stock market after the Nikkei 225 benchmark index closed at an 18-year low.
Japan shares hit 18-year low
JAPAN - Japan's shares have slumped to a new 18-year low.
Koizumi rejoins battle for reform
JAPAN - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has promised to forge ahead with painful reforms to revive the economy despite a sudden drop in his popularity.
Speech by Masaru Hayami, Governor, Bank of Japan
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Toward Revitalization of Japan's Economy' Hayami said it was neither possible nor desirable for Japan to try manipulating foreign exchange rates, maintaining that a weaker yen was no solution to its economic woes.
Hayami says weak yen no solution to Japan's woes
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami said on Tuesday it was neither possible nor desirable for Japan to try manipulating foreign exchange rates, maintaining that a weaker yen was no solution to its economic woes.
Japan jobless rate hits new high
JAPAN - Japan's unemployment has reached a new record high of 5.6%.
Speech by Shigemitsu Sugisaki of the IMF
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Global Prospects after September 11 and Implications for Japan' Sugisaki said that the Bank of Japan should set a deadline to end deflation and stop a cycle of falling prices in the world's second largest economy.
IMF official calls for Japan deflation deadline
US - A top International Monetary Fund (IMF) and former Japan Finance Ministry official said on Friday the Bank of Japan should set a deadline to end deflation and stop a cycle of falling prices in the world's second largest economy.
NZ's Brash - Encouraging signs from US
NEW ZEALAND - Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Donald Brash said Friday that there are "encouraging" signs of improvement from the U.S. but Japan remains the biggest risk to the local economy.
BOJ's Hayami - FX moves need further monitoring
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami said Friday the 0.8% decline in Japanese consumer prices last year was "normal," apparently attempting to downplay concerns about deflation weighing on the economy.
BIS research papers
RESEARCH - Research from the BIS 'Comparing monetary policy operating procedures across the United States, Japan and the euro area', Monetary and Economic Department, Bank for International Settlements, December 2001.
The yen's fundamental weakness
FEATURE - The currency's depreciation stems not from government policy but the state of the economy says Haruhiko Kuroda, Japan's viceminister of finance for international affairs.
US comments push down on yen
US - Mixed messages from the US administration have helped Japan's currency touch new lows.