Japan's more than 100 regional banks are struggling as lending opportunities wane with the shrinking of their local populations - pain that has been exacerbated by a squeeze on lending margins from the Bank of Japan's negative interest-rate policy. ( read original story ...)
Nikkei edges down as market analyses ECB; Yaskawa soars
TOKYO, July 21 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average edged down on Friday morning as investors took in the European Central Bank's policy talk, while individual companies such as Yaskawa Electric soared on strong profit forecasts. The Nikkei dropped 0.3 ... ( read original story ...)
Nikkei edges down as steelmakers hit by profit taking, Yaskawa soars
TOKYO, July 21 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average edged down on Friday as investors took profits on steelmakers, offsetting gains in Yaskawa Electric and other machinery makers. The Nikkei ended down 0.2 percent at 20,099.75 points. For the week ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s June export growth points to sustained economy recovery
Japan's exports rose for a seventh straight month in June led by shipments of cars and electronics, an indication external demand continues to support a gradual economic recovery and backing the central bank's upbeat economic view. Ministry of Finance (MOF ... ( read original story ...)
Bank of Japan again pushes back inflation target, keeps policy steady
The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady on Thursday but once again pushed back the timing for achieving its ambitious inflation target, reinforcing views it will lag well behind other major central banks in scaling back its massive stimulus program. ( read original story ...)
Bank of Japan keeps stimulus intact, cuts inflation outlook
Japan's central bank opted Thursday to keep its lavish monetary stimulus intact while downgrading its outlook for inflation. The Bank of Japan's policy meeting ended Thursday with no change to its injections of trillions of yen (hundreds of billions of ... ( read original story ...)
Bank of Japan keeps monetary policy steady, cuts inflation expectations
The Bank of Japan said Thursday that it kept its monetary policy unchanged after its two-day meeting, but it cut inflation forecasts for fiscal years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. The central bank now expects inflation to be at 1.1 percent for the current ... ( read original story ...)
Nikkei lifted by Wall Street highs as BOJ outcome awaited
TOKYO, July 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose in morning trade on Thursday, buoyed by record highs on Wall Street though capped by caution ahead of the outcome of the Bank of Japan meeting. The Nikkei was up 0.4 percent at 20,092.14 at the ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s finance czar gets a rare 3rd term — and 3 challenges
TOKYO -- The commissioner of Japan's Financial Services Agency ... lend where there is no collateral or guarantees," said a source at a regional bank in the Osaka area. But regional banks also face a shrinking population and market uncertainties, and ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Central Bank’s ETF Shopping Spree Is Becoming a Worry
Sustainability is said to be a key concern for some at the BOJ No changes are likely at the policy board’s meeting this week Some officials at the Bank of Japan are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the BOJ’s purchases of exchange ... ( read original story ...)
After throwing in the kitchen sink, what’s a central bank to do?
with the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan in particular at the bottom limit of what they can do. It is not the first time this concern has been raised. The Bank for International Settlements, often called the central banks' bank, fired a warning ... ( read original story ...)
BANK OF JAPAN : Main events scheduled for Wednesday, July 19
Main events scheduled in Japan for Wednesday, July 19: -- Japan Tourism Agency to release number of foreign visitors to Japan in June. -- Bank of Japan to hold two-day meeting of decision-making Policy Board. -- Cabinet Office to release monthly economic ... ( read original story ...)
Monetary Policy in Japan Has a New Problem: Amazon
In part as a result, Japan’s central bank is likely to lower its price forecast for the current financial... ( read original story ...)
AfDB, Japan to launch Japan-Africa Energy Initiative
The Government of Japan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a Letter of Intent to launch the Japan-Africa Energy Initiative (JAEI) to provide significant support to the New Deal on Energy for Africa. The deal is aimed to achieve universal ... ( read original story ...)
BOJ likely to push back timeframe for inflation target again: Reuters poll
TOKYO (Reuters) - Faced with still-sluggish inflation even as the economy picks up steam, the Bank of Japan will delay again its projected timing for achieving the 2 percent inflation target, according to a majority of economists polled by Reuters. ( read original story ...)
Board reshuffle may complicate BOJ’s retreat from radicalism
TOKYO (Reuters) - A reshuffle in the Bank of Japan's board will tip its balance more in favor of aggressive stimulus just as the bank quietly retreats from its radical monetary experiment, complicating the task of bureaucrats seeking to whittle down its ... ( read original story ...)