Tweak to Yield Curve Control still on the table

The Bank of Japan’s attempt to relieve pressure on the Yield Curve Control framework by offering to buy an unlimited amount of 10-year Japanese government bonds (JGBs) at yields of 0.25% for as long as necessary appears to have done the trick so far. Despite offering to do so every working day, the Bank hasn’t yet had to buy any bonds through the fixed rate method in May. The Bank’s latest confidence trick – along with the recent fall in global yields – has dissuaded the bond vigilantes for now. However, we think that the Bank will have to defend its ceiling with heavy purchases once again if – as we expect – US Treasury yields start rising again. And media reports suggests that some of the public are pinning blame on the BoJ for rising prices stemming from a weaker yen. As such, there’s still a good chance that the BoJ will ultimately decide to relieve pressure by widening its tolerance band on 10-year yields from the current ±0.25% to ±0.50% later this year.