Policymakers are counting on business investment to be an engine for the Japanese economy.
Economy

Japan Q2 corporate capex up 7.4%, pointing to solid domestic demand

Capital spending data could support move by BOJ to raise interest rates further

2 September 2024
An employee works at a Tokyo supermarket in early 2023. Inflation figures for the Japanese capital are considered a leading indicator of nationwide trends.
Inflation

Core inflation in Japan's capital rises 2.4% in August

Consumer price data backs case for more BOJ interest rate hikes

30 August 2024
The market is keeping close tabs on Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda's remarks. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Bank of Japan

BOJ Gov. Ueda restates stance on policy normalization after market rout

Central banker scrutinized at parliamentary hearing on market messaging

23 August 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a press conference following a monetary policy meeting on July 31. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Opinion

BOJ still on hawkish track despite dovish bid to cool market turmoil

Central bank must improve communication, economy judgment and risk assessment

10 August 2024
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Markets

On topic: Japan stocks hit by historic turbulence

A collection of stories on current hot topics

10 August 2024
The mighty dollar has taken a 10% hit since early July from a suddenly strengthening Japanese yen. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Currencies

Currency strategists see yen closing out the year in the mid-140s

Speculators scurry to reduce their bets on the yen's fall

9 August 2024
Dovish comments by the Bank of Japan's deputy governor drove up stock prices on Aug. 7. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura)
Equities

Japan stocks close up 1% on dovish BOJ signal

Financial shares such as SMFG and MUFG are biggest gainers

7 August 2024
Japanese stocks took a big upswing on Aug. 6 after suffering their worst-ever sell-offs in the previous two trading days. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Equities

Tokyo stocks brace for further volatility after biggest single-day jump

Market wary as it awaits U.S. rate cut decision and Japan real wage data

6 August 2024
Japanese stocks have been in a downward spiral since Aug. 1, a day after the Bank of Japan aggressively raised interest rates to 0.25% from 0.1% and said it was open to more hikes this year. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Equities

Japan stocks dive 4,451 points, more than Black Monday in 1987

Yen surges to 141 per dollar as potential U.S. recession spooks investors

5 August 2024
Vehicles awaiting export at a shipyard in Aichi prefecture: The weak yen has often benefited exporters generating revenue from sales overseas. (Photo by Takuya Imai)
Business trends

Japanese companies see limited financing impact from BOJ hike

Mitsubishi says currency assumptions unchanged, JAL expects to benefit

2 August 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on July 31. 
Opinion

Poker-faced Ueda overplays hand as BOJ enters tightening phase

Weak yen policy has taken the onus off governments to restructure the economy

2 August 2024
Services benefiting from inbound spending also took a blow. Department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings dropped 11.7%. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Equities

Japan's Nikkei average drops 3.5% as yen jumps to 148 per dollar

BOJ governor's hawkish posture weighs on stocks of exporters like auto companies

1 August 2024
The BOJ's monetary policy decision on July 31 sent the Japanese yen to a high it had not touched since mid-March. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Currencies

Yen jumps on BOJ chief's hawkish stance

Kazuo Ueda remains open to further rate hikes, pending economic growth and inflation

31 July 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a news conference after its policy meeting in Tokyo on July 31. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
31 July 2024
The Bank of Japan will discuss increasing the policy rate to 0.25% at its two-day policy board meeting through July 31. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Bank of Japan

BOJ to weigh rate hike to 0.25% at Wednesday policy meeting

Japan central bank seen halving JGB purchases within 2 years amid steady inflation

31 July 2024
The Bank of Japan is grappling with policy as a deeply depreciating yen stokes import prices and saps consumers' purchasing power. (Source photos by Nanami Sato and Pool)
Market Spotlight

'Wishy-washy' BOJ keeps investors guessing on next move

Central bank set to release tapering plan, mull timing of rate hike

29 July 2024
Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin explains about digital wallet program in Bankok on Nov. 10. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Your Week in Asia

Quad FM meeting, BOJ monetary policy, digital wallet stimulus in Thailand

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 July 2024
Investors are paying close attention to the Bank of Japan's next move with a monetary policy meeting scheduled for July 30 and 31. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Currencies

BOJ data suggests additional $13bn yen intervention on Friday

Possible back-to-back moves late last week intended to stop yen slide

16 July 2024
Japan's Ministry of Finance neither confirmed or denied foreign exchange market intervention on July 12. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Currencies

BOJ data hints at possible $22bn intervention on yen Thursday

Sharp rally in Japanese currency takes market players by surprise

12 July 2024
Japanese currency officials have declined to comment on whether they intervened to prop up the weak yen. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Currencies

Yen's volatility sparks intervention suspicion after U.S. CPI data

Nikkei average falls more than 1,000 points, partly due to Japanese currency's surge

12 July 2024
Japanese shares have been on a roll in recent months, firing up interest from overseas investors. (Photo by Jo Miyaguchi)
11 July 2024
The Bank of Japan's next policy meeting starts on July 30. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Bonds

Japan rate rise speculation grows as overseas investors await BOJ

Weak yen seen forcing central bank's hand on early hike

11 July 2024
The headquarters of the Bank of Japan in Tokyo.
Opinion

BOJ needs to remove the straitjacket of its hard 2% inflation target

Central bank should adopt a more balanced approach to its monetary policy

10 July 2024
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks during a ceremony on the day of the new notes of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen went into circulation, at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo on July 3. (Pool photo)
Currencies

Cash-loving Japan redesigns banknotes for first time in two decades

Bills embrace cutting-edge tech in a world first, are clearer to non-Japanese

3 July 2024