Bank of Japan

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
The Bank of Japan released the results of the latest Tankan business sentiment survey as it considers the timing of a pending policy shift. (Photo by Maho Obata)
Economy

Japan business mood rises for the first time in 6 months: BOJ Tankan

Quarterly survey results come amid BOJ's pending policy shift

1 July 2024
"We will firmly respond to moves that are too rapid or driven by speculators," Japan's top currency diplomat, Masato Kanda, said on June 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Currencies

Yen slides under 160 to lowest level since 1986; Japan stocks fall

Drop stokes expectations for government and BOJ to step in again

27 June 2024
The yen has weakened past the 200 mark against the pound to a roughly 16-year low. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura)
Currencies

Yen sell-off broadens with fresh lows against U.K. pound, Swiss franc

Japan currency weakens amid limited intervention impact outside of dollar

20 June 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda on June 14 in Tokyo: His suggestion that the central bank may tighten policy in July does not seem credible.
Opinion

Bank of Japan can't be taken seriously without more than talk

Central bank may already have missed chance to normalize policy

19 June 2024
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has left open the possibility of the BOJ choosing a rate increase and a balance sheet reduction at the same time in July. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura)
Bank of Japan

BOJ leaves open possibility of rate hike, bond buy reductions in July

Governor Ueda expects "sizable" reductions in bond purchases

14 June 2024
The yen dropped to its lowest point since April 29, the day the government and the central bank likely intervened to prop up the currency for the first time in a year and half. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Currencies

Yen weakens as BOJ gives no details on JGB purchase cut

Japanese currency falls to level not seen since late-April intervention

14 June 2024
The Bank of Japan has continued large-scale purchases of Japanese government bonds even after ending its yield curve control policy in March. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Bank of Japan

BOJ to weigh cuts to government bond purchases

Japan central bank's JGB holdings would shrink as bonds mature

13 June 2024
Economists are divided over the course of the BOJ's balance sheet policy in the coming months and whether a reduction would constitute the start of quantitative tightening. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Kyodo and Yuji Murakami)
Market Spotlight

Market to scrutinize BOJ for signs of quantitative tightening

Japan's central bank is shifting away from decadelong expansion of balance sheet

10 June 2024
Staffers handle the coffin of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during his burial ceremony in the holy shrine of Imam Reza on May 23.
Your Week in Asia

Iranian presidential race, Chinese inflation, BOJ policy meeting

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

9 June 2024
Most market watchers expect the Bank of Japan to scale down its JGB buying program in June or July, according to a QUICK survey. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Bank of Japan

Bank of Japan to weigh future of JGB purchases at policy meeting

Balance sheet reduction seen as necessary step as central bank exits easing

8 June 2024
Belief that the Bank of Japan will further tighten its policy to prop up the yen and cool import price inflation has pushed up yields for Japanese government bonds. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Markets

Japan's 10-year bond yield hits 13-year high; Nikkei average sinks

Yen falls to 4-week low on belief Fed will go higher for longer takes hold

30 May 2024
Payments by the BOJ to the government are seen as a critical source of funds for the country's defense buildup. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Bank of Japan

BOJ pays record $14bn to government on ETF gains and bond interest

Unrealized losses on Japanese government bonds skyrocket amid higher rates

30 May 2024
A man walks past a screen displaying interest rates outside a brokerage in Tokyo on May 22. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Bonds

Japan's 10-year government bond yield hits 1% for first time in 11 years

Investors turn cautious on debt as speculation grows over BOJ hawkishness

22 May 2024
Japanese government bond yields have been inching up this year due to the Bank of Japan strengthening its hawkish stance and moving toward normalizing its ultraloose monetary policy. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Bonds

Japan's 10-year government bond yield rises to 11-year high

Speculation on hawkish BOJ actions, investor risk appetite led to bond selling

20 May 2024
The yen's weakness stems from the wide rate differential between the U.S. and Japan. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Akira Kodaka and Yuji Murakami)
Market Spotlight

Potential for earlier BOJ rate hike rises amid hawkish signals, weak yen

Some analysts expect Japan's central bank to use bond yields to stop yen's fall

20 May 2024
Currency analysts are focused on the U.S. consumer price index for April due Wednesday after the previous month’s data caused the yen to tumble. (Source photos by Hiroshi Tamehiro and Akira Kodaka)
Market Spotlight

Mighty dollar pushes Asian governments to boost currency protection

Asian monetary officials seek to buy time until the U.S. economy slows down

13 May 2024