Bank of Japan Watch Policy tightening remains a long way off The unusual strength of wage growth in Japan has attracted attention recently. But the main development at the upcoming Bank of Japan meeting is likely to be another reduction in the Board’s forecast... 24th April 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch New leadership will keep policy loose Japan’s economic expansion has become more shaky recently. And, while inflation has surged in recent months, it looks likely to moderate over the course of the year with the recent strengthening of... 5th March 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank of Japan to keep policy loose this year Speculation that the Bank of Japan is about to increase its yield target has pushed the yen higher. However, we think that policy tightening remains a distant prospect and that the yen will weaken as... 18th January 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank of Japan to keep policy loose next year With yields set to rise overseas and concerns that low policy rates may curtail lending likely to linger, speculation about policy tightening in Japan will not subside next year. However, we believe... 13th December 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Lower inflation forecasts underline case for loose policy The Bank of Japan will leave policy settings unchanged at the upcoming meeting while further reductions in the Board’s inflation forecasts will underline that policy tightening remains a distant... 25th October 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Stronger growth still failing to generate inflation The Bank of Japan at its upcoming meeting will acknowledge that the economic recovery has accelerated. But policymakers will again leave policy settings unchanged and, with inflation set to continue... 14th September 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Lower inflation forecasts to underline case for loose policy The Bank of Japan will probably upgrade its assessment of the health of the economy at the upcoming meeting. But downward revisions to the Board’s inflation forecasts will underline that policy... 17th July 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Board will have to lower inflation forecasts yet again The Bank of Japan will almost certainly leave policy settings unchanged at the upcoming meeting. And with inflation set to fall short of its forecasts for the current fiscal year, there is little... 8th June 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Cuts to inflation forecast to underline need for loose policy With economic growth strengthening recently, a slim majority of analysts now expects the Bank of Japan to start tightening policy by the end of next year. But stronger growth has failed to generate... 20th April 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Talk of policy tightening will prove premature The Bank of Japan may upgrade its near-term outlook for inflation at its meeting this week. With inflation picking up again, a rising number of analysts now expect the Bank to tighten policy in coming... 13th March 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank of Japan on prolonged hold The Bank of Japan will probably extend the deadlines for some of its lending programmes by one year at the upcoming meeting. But having upgraded its assessment of the economy at the December meeting... 26th January 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank of Japan to leave policy rates unchanged At its last meeting, the Bank of Japan sounded the alarm over a decline in price pressures. However, the economy has continued to grow faster than potential and the recent sharp weakening of the yen... 15th December 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Policy rate to be lowered further At its upcoming meeting, the Bank of Japan is set to slash its inflation forecasts for the coming fiscal year and may push also back the timeframe for hitting the 2% inflation target yet again. While... 28th October 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Comprehensive policy review should deliver more easing The announcement that a comprehensive assessment of monetary policy would be carried out at the upcoming Bank of Japan meeting has triggered even more speculation than usual about possible changes of... 16th September 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Fiscal stimulus unlikely to prevent BoJ from easing An imminent shift from fiscal tightening to loosening has reduced the pressure on the Bank of Japan to provide more stimulus. However, the sharp appreciation of the exchange rate since the start of... 26th July 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Falling underlying inflation to require more easing The government’s decision to postpone the sales tax hike to 2019 has improved the economic outlook. However, we still believe that the Bank will respond to the recent moderation in underlying... 13th June 2016 · 1 min read