Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan probably on hold until second half of 2014 The Bank of Japan’s decision to maintain the current pace of asset purchases after its Board meeting today was no surprise. Governor Kuroda emphasised the Bank’s willingness to ease further, but also... 21st November 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Oct.) While the money supply grew at the fastest pace since the late 1990s in October, bank lending has decelerated slightly. But record low interest rates and easy lending standards should provide further... 18th November 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Which indicators will be most affected by the sales tax hike? If Japan’s past is a guide, some spending will be brought forward ahead of April’s consumption tax hike and it will slump thereafter. The experience from the 1997 increase in the same tax suggests... 8th November 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan in no hurry to ease further The BoJ today only marginally tweaked its economic forecasts, and took a sanguine view of the upcoming consumption tax hike. It was therefore no surprise that policy settings were left unchanged... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Sep.) Easy financial conditions and record-low bank lending rates continue to propel a strong expansion of the monetary aggregates and bank lending. 16th October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update What to expect from the autumn Diet session The autumn Diet session is the first in which Prime Minister Abe’s coalition has a majority in both houses of the legislature and it will provide an important test of his ability to push through... 15th October 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Nikkei set to outperform again Japanese equities have dropped further than their peers so far this month and are among the most vulnerable to the fall-out from a potential US government default. Nonetheless, once the debt-ceiling... 9th October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan still likely to ease more The BoJ’s decision today to keep its policy settings unchanged was no surprise, particularly in the wake of the government’s announcement that it would introduce a large fiscal stimulus to offset the... 4th October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Consumption tax hike leaves credibility at risk Following a strong Q3 Tankan survey, the Japanese government today confirmed that it will go ahead with the first consumption tax hike next April. However, the decision to offset some of the fiscal... 1st October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Cross-border lending exposes Japanese banks to new risks Japan has regained its position as the world's largest international lender. This partly reflects the relative stability of the country's banking sector in recent years. But it is also the result of a... 18th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Aug.) Over the past few months, broad money has grown at the fastest pace in several years in y/y terms. However, the Bank of Japan can only take part of the credit: the initial acceleration happened well... 17th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Consumption tax strategy leaves credibility in doubt The Japanese government looks set to press ahead with the hike in the consumption tax as planned next year, albeit with some offsetting increases in public spending and cuts in corporate taxes. This... 13th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Olympics likely to be an economic non-event Tokyo’s hosting of the 2020 Olympic Games is unlikely to provide any material contribution to economic growth in Japan. Overall spending on the Games will be small and focused on sporting facilities... 10th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan reiterates support for consumption tax hikes Governor Kuroda today underlined the Bank of Japan’s view – already reflected in its economic forecasts – that the planned consumption tax hikes will neither derail the recovery nor prevent inflation... 5th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update More is needed to encourage women to work Higher female participation could eventually provide a small but welcome boost to the potential growth rate of the Japanese economy. However, the government’s pledge to improve the availability of... 28th August 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Raising the official retirement age may have little impact Japan's adverse demographics and huge public debt are strengthening the pressure for labour market reforms that could both lift economic growth and save the government money. However, raising the... 26th August 2013 · 1 min read
