Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Apr.) The fall in small business confidence in April reflects seasonal patterns. Still, the survey suggests that economic activity remains sluggish. 27th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Apr.) The fourth straight drop in the manufacturing PMI in April suggests that the continued strengthening of the yen and the disruptions caused by the Kyushu earthquakes are taking their toll on activity... 22nd April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Mar.) The slump in export values is weighing on firms’ revenues and may undermine their willingness to invest and lift wages. 20th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Feb.) The surge in iron and steel orders which pushed up machinery orders in January reversed in February but orders remain consistent with a renewed rise in business investment last quarter. 11th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers Survey (Mar.) The rebound in the Economy Watchers Survey last month is far less positive than it looks. Allowing for seasonal variations, “current conditions” were the weakest since 2014’s sales tax hike. 8th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Mar.) The rebound in consumer confidence in March may prove short-lived as stock markets sold off again at the start of April. 8th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Current Account (Feb.) The current account surplus rebounded in February, but we expect the energy import bill to rise which should result in a narrower surplus in coming months. 8th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Feb.) While wage growth rebounded in February, the ongoing spring wage negotiations will likely result in smaller base pay hikes than last year. The upshot is that the outlook for labour income remains... 5th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Tankan (Q1) The pronounced drop in the headline index of today’s Tankan survey underlines that the recent strengthening of the yen has damaged business confidence and suggests that the Bank of Japan will announce... 1st April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Industrial Production (Feb.) The slump in industrial output in February suggests that manufacturing activity will contract this quarter and implies downside risks to our forecast of a 0.2% q/q rebound in GDP in Q1. 30th March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Mar.) The rebound in small business confidence in March is due to seasonal patterns. In fact, the survey points to falling industrial output. 29th March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Unemployment, Household Spending & Retail Sales (Feb.) While the labour market remains tight, consumer spending may only have rebounded marginally this quarter. 29th March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Mar.) The renewed fall in the manufacturing PMI to a three year-low in March underlines that the recent strengthening of the exchange rate is dampening activity in the sector. 22nd March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Feb.) The trade surplus climbed to a fresh high in February, but should worsen again before long as the yen weakens and crude oil prices continue to rise. 17th March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Jan.) Today’s data on machinery orders suggest that capital spending will continue to expand this quarter. While a near-term slowdown is likely, we expect the recovery in capital expenditure to resume... 14th March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence & Economy Watchers Survey (Feb.) The sharp fall in consumer confidence last month shows that the recent market turmoil has taken its toll on sentiment and suggests that households may cut spending further this quarter. What’s more... 8th March 2016 · 1 min read
