Business Mar 8, 2023
Wage hikes at Japan’s small firms closely watched for BOJ clues
by Yoshiaki Nohara and Erica Yokoyama
It’s the salary decisions at smaller companies without unions that will indicate how widespread wage gains really are.
Business / Economy Mar 7, 2023
Japan real wages slump most since 2014 despite government push for more pay
by Erica Yokoyama
Real cash earnings for Japan’s workers declined 4.1% from a year earlier in January, slipping for a 10th consecutive month, suggesting Japan is still far from a virtuous economic cycle.
Business Mar 6, 2023
Kuroda’s decade at the BOJ changed how Japan’s banks make money
by Taiga Uranaka
Investors prepare for an eventual normalization of monetary policy with BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, who introduced negative interest rates, set to hand over the reins.
Business Mar 5, 2023
Senior LDP lawmaker says any new BOJ accord would be disruptive
Asked about rising prices, fueled by higher energy costs and supply chain disruptions, Hiroshige Seko said the LDP plans to put forth a package of measures worth as much as ¥5 trillion.
Business / Economy Mar 5, 2023
40% of firms want BOJ to scale down monetary easing, survey shows
Of around 1,000 valid respondents, 39.6% called for a scaling back of the stimulus program, while 36.4% said the central bank should maintain its current policy.
Business / Economy | FOCUS Mar 4, 2023
BOJ chief nominee sticking to familiar playbook — at least for now
by Noriyuki Suzuki
Carefully worded statements on monetary policy suggest Kazuo Ueda will prioritize communication with financial markets and make his thinking behind policy decisions clear.
Business Mar 3, 2023
BOJ watchers see higher chance of June shift after Kazuo Ueda hearings
by Toru Fujioka and Cynthia Li
Some 41% of BOJ watchers expect a tightening step to take place in June according to a recent survey.
Business Mar 3, 2023
Tokyo inflation slows sharply as subsidies mask ongoing strength
by Erica Yokoyama and Toru Fujioka
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 3.3% in the capital in February, slowing for the first time since January last year.
Business / Economy Mar 2, 2023
Ex-BOJ governor Shirakawa urges re-examination of monetary framework and inflation targets
by Leika Kihara
By allowing inflation to overshoot their targets, central banks "forgot the difficulty of taking away the monetary punch bowl" and failed to tighten policy soon enough, he said.
Business / Economy Mar 2, 2023
Peaking inflation risks are throwing Japanese investors a curveball
by Toru Fujioka and Yumi Teso
Early inflation figures for Tokyo, due Friday, are expected to show core consumer price growth slowing a full percentage point to 3.3% in February, from January’s four-decade high.
Business Mar 1, 2023
U.S. experts have high expectations for Bank of Japan nominee
by Miki Ishibashi
Ueda is "an ideal candidate" to meet the challenges facing the BOJ such as achieving a 2% inflation target, a former head of the Japan/Korea desk at the OECD said.
Business / Economy Feb 28, 2023
Incoming BOJ deputy head brushes aside near-term tweak to easy policy
by Leika Kihara and Tetsushi Kajimoto
Shinichi Uchida suggested that any review of the central bank's policy framework could take about a year.