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
Bank of Japan Watch Bank to announce more easing this week Headwinds to the Bank of Japan’s efforts to lift inflation have intensified in recent weeks. We expect the Bank to ease more at the upcoming meeting, most probably by increasing asset purchases and... 25th April 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank likely to announce more easing this month Japan’s economy is struggling to regain momentum and the recent strengthening of the yen is providing a further headwind to efforts to raise inflation. The Bank of Japan will therefore have to step up... 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Virtuous cycle grinding to a halt With economic activity recovering and underlying inflation holding up, the recent strengthening of the yen and the plunge in the Nikkei are unlikely to force the Bank’s hand at next week’s meeting... 26th January 2016 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Inflation slowdown to increase pressure on policymakers With economic activity recovering and underlying inflation holding up, there is little immediate pressure on the Bank to step up the pace of easing. However, we still believe that price pressures will... 15th December 2015 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch BoJ still likely to step up pace of easing The renewed widening in spare capacity last quarter suggests that underlying inflation will start to moderate before long. We therefore still think that more easing will eventually be required, with... 17th November 2015 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch BoJ likely to announce more stimulus on Friday The recent rebound in underlying inflation provides a reason for the Bank of Japan to stand pat at Friday’s meeting, but not a compelling one. With the economy back in recession and the tight labour... 26th October 2015 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch BoJ to step up pace of easing this month With the economy very likely now back in recession, an increase in monetary stimulus looks all but inevitable. Policymakers could announce more easing as soon as this week, but our base case remains... 5th October 2015 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Headwinds to QQE are intensifying Economic activity continues to languish, and the tight labour market has failed to generate broad-based wage gains. With renewed falls in crude oil prices undermining the Bank’s attempts to lift... 10th September 2015 · 1 min read
