Bank of Japan Watch Bank to remain on the side lines While the tone of the incoming data has been a little more positive since the March meeting, we still expect GDP growth to slow sharply this year. However, many on the Board remain concerned about the... 17th April 2019 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Hurdles for further easing are high While there are mounting signs that a global downturn is underway, concerns about the impact of low policy rates on the health of the banking sector will probably prevent the BoJ from cutting its... 5th March 2019 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Tightening remains a distant prospect The Bank is getting a bit more concerned about the impact of prolonged monetary easing on financial stability. But with economic activity and inflation set to fall short of its forecasts yet again... 16th January 2019 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Speculation about policy tightening premature Recent comments by Governor Kuroda and analysis published by the Bank of Japan have again fuelled speculation that policy may be tightened soon. But with the economic expansion sputtering, the... 12th December 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Sales tax hike is the nail in the coffin to tighter policy The Bank of Japan will probably lower its growth and inflation forecasts further at next week’s policy meeting. And it should reiterate its pledge to keep interest rates at current extremely low... 24th October 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Board getting more concerned about economic outlook Mounting downside risks to economic activity mean that the Bank of Japan will have little reason in the foreseeable future to deviate from its pledge to keep interest rates extremely low for an... 13th September 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch BoJ to tread carefully in policy review Leaks from the Bank of Japan ahead of next week’s Policy Board meeting have prompted speculation that the Board will adjust its policy framework. Any changes would be intended to address the strains... 26th July 2018 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Financial stability concerns unlikely to lead to tightening Concerns about financial stability seem to have become more widespread on the Policy Board. But inflation remains far below the 2% target and the prospect of a renewed slowdown in domestic demand... 11th June 2018 · 1 min read
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
