Japan Data Response External trade (Dec.) The trade balance recorded another surplus in December as lower oil prices reduced import values, and a further improvement in coming months lies ahead. 25th January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Jan.) The manufacturing PMI remained strong in January and suggests that economy activity continued to recover at a solid pace. 22nd January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Nov.) Despite a sharp fall in machinery orders in November, we still think that the recovery in business investment remains intact. 14th January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers Survey (Dec.) The pick-up in current conditions in today’s Economy Watchers Survey mostly reflects seasonal patterns. In fact, the survey still points to broadly stagnant industrial output. 12th January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Dec.) While the modest improvement in consumer confidence in December is welcome, policymakers at the Bank of Japan should be concerned about the continued decline in household inflation expectations. 12th January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Current Account (Nov.) The fall in the current account surplus in November should be followed by a rebound around the turn of the year as the latest fall in crude oil prices has yet to fully feed through to petroleum... 12th January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Nov.) The marked slowdown in the annual growth rate of labour cash earnings in November was mostly due to a plunge in volatile bonus payments, whereas regular pay expanded rather solidly. However, much... 8th January 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Dec.) The fall in small business confidence in December partly reflects seasonal patterns. Nonetheless, it confirms earlier signs from the manufacturing PMI that economic momentum has slowed somewhat... 22nd December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Nov.) While net trade probably provided another boost to GDP growth this quarter, a slowdown in export volumes lies ahead. 17th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Dec.) While the headline manufacturing PMI was little changed in December, the moderation in the output component suggests that the recovery has lost some momentum. 16th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Tankan (Q4) The upside surprise in today’s Tankan survey will support the Bank of Japan’s upbeat view on the economy and suggests that policymakers will leave the pace of asset purchases unchanged at least until... 14th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Oct.) The jump in machinery orders in October suggests that non-residential investment will continue to increase this quarter. 9th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers Survey (Nov.) Today’s Economy Watchers Survey dropped back even allowing for seasonal distortions, and once again points to stagnant industrial activity. 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q3 Revised) & Current Account (Oct.) Revised data show that GDP rebounded in Q3 rather than shrinking as initially reported. With the recovery continuing this quarter, the Bank of Japan will probably leave policy settings in January. 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Nov.) With households the most upbeat since late 2013, the prospects for consumer spending look fairly bright. 4th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Oct.) The pick-up in wage growth in October reflects a surge in bonus payments rather than an acceleration in base pay. The big picture remains that labour cash earnings are not rising fast enough to create... 4th December 2015 · 1 min read
