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☆ Japanese central bank's stance can be viewed as dovish, says former BOJ official
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJapanese central bank's stance can be viewed as dovish, says former BOJ officialKazuo Momma, executive economist at Mizuho Research & Technologies and former Bank of Japan assistant governor, discusses Bank of Japan's decision to keep its key rate unchanged.

Persons: Kazuo Momma Organizations: Mizuho Research & Technologies, Bank of Japan

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Friday as investors in Asia look to the Bank of Japan's policy decision and inflation figures out of Tokyo. Thirteen economists polled by Reuters unanimously forecast that the BOJ will leave its monetary policy unchanged. Tokyo's headline inflation rate for April came in at 1.8%, slowing from the 2.6% in March. Core inflation in the capital — which strips out prices of fresh food — sharply fell to 1.6% from March's 2.4%, missing expectations of 2.2% from economists polled by Reuters. Tokyo inflation data is widely considered as a leading indicator of nationwide trends.

Persons: Cherry Organizations: Nippon Budokan, Bank of, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific

☆ Firm dollar drags yen down closer to intervention range
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A firm U.S. dollar had the yen locked near a fresh 34-year low on Tuesday, keeping investors on heightened intervention watch as they looked ahead to key U.S. inflation report and the Bank of Japan's rate decision this week. A firm U.S. dollar had the yen locked near a fresh 34-year low on Tuesday, keeping investors on heightened intervention watch as they looked ahead to key U.S. inflation report and the Bank of Japan's rate decision this week. Traders have been keeping wary eye as yen slips towards 155.00, a level considered by many participants as the new trigger for intervention by Japanese authorities. The weak yen complicates the BOJ's policy path, with some market players betting the central bank could come under pressure to hike rates sooner than it wants to slow the currency's decline. Markets are currently pricing in a 46% chance of the Fed's first rate cut starting in September, with November not far behind at 42%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Persons: Carol Kong, Shunichi Suzuki, BoE, Sterling, bitcoin Organizations: Bank of, Traders, Bank of Japan's, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Japan's Finance, Federal Reserve, Investors, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's, European Central Bank, Bank of England Locations: Japan, Iran, Israel, Tokyo, Japan's, U.S, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Kong

☆ Currencies calm but cautious after a weary week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. one hundred dollar bills are being shown in this picture illustration taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 15, 2023. Eyes are on the yen this week, with the Bank of Japan's, or BOJ, Friday policy review the notable item on the economic calendar. The yen has been one of the biggest losers against the dollar this year, with losses mounting to 9%. The ECB's Robert Holzmann, however, said the ECB probably will not cut rates this year as much as planned if the Fed does not move. BoE Governor Andrew Bailey and Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden alluded last week to Britain's inflation slowing as expected.

Persons: Chris Weston, Weston, Kazuo Ueda, BoE, ECB policymaker Madis Muller, Christine Lagarde, Robert Holzmann, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Dave Ramsden, Sterling, Bitcoin Organizations: U.S ., Bank of Japan's, Federal Reserve, Monetary Fund, Bank, Washington , Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Bank of England, ECB policymaker, ECB, Treasury Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, East, Tehran, Iran, Washington, United States, Japan, South Korea, Washington ,, U.S

☆ Japan's real wages fall for 23rd straight month, dampening Bank of Japan's hopes for 'virtuous cycle'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Real wages in Japan fell for a 23rd straight month, suggesting that high inflation is still biting into consumer spending power in the country. Labor ministry data released Monday showed that real wages fell 1.3% in February from a year ago, accelerating from a revised 1.1% drop in January. The data showed special payments, which include bonuses, slipped 5.5% year-on-year. But those pay hikes benefit only a fraction of Japan's workers, given only 16.3% of workers are unionized in the country and most unionized workers are concentrated in large companies. If real wages continue to decline, consumers may choose to save instead of spend, thereby generating little demand and impetus for prices to rise.

Organizations: Labor, Bank of Japan's Locations: Japan

☆ Why Japan's 'shunto' wage hikes may not bring cheer to over 80% of its workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Akihiko Matsuura, president of UA Zensen, center, raises his fist with members of the union during a rally for the annual wage negotiations in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. But will the "shunto" hikes really work for its legions of salarymen? However, headline inflation, which has been above the Bank of Japan's 2% target since April 2022, hits the entire population. This means that the generous pay raise negotiated by the unions leave out almost 84% of Japan's workforce. The recent wage negotiations are also likely to benefit mostly workers in large Japanese companies, while employees at small and medium enterprises might have to face rising prices without a commensurate hike to their salaries.

Persons: Akihiko Matsuura, Richard Kaye, Comgest, Japan Organizations: UA, Japanese Trade Union Confederation, Japan International Labour Foundation, Bank of Japan's, CNBC Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Dollar steadies, yen pinned near 152
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar was steady on Friday after data showed U.S. inflation remained sticky but easing gradually, keeping alive the chance of the Federal Reserve cutting rates in June, while the yen slid back to the key 150 per dollar level. The dollar was on the front foot on Wednesday, pinning the yen near its lowest in decades though the heightened threat of currency intervention by Tokyo capped further declines in the Japanese currency. The yen was last at 151.585 per dollar, languishing near last month's slump to 34-year lows of 151.975 in the wake of the Bank of Japan's historic policy shift. The dollar , which on Tuesday touched a nearly five-month high of 105.10 against a basket of currencies, was last steady at 104.76. "I think the dollar will hold up pretty well in the near term, and that will be a headwind for the other major currencies."

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Koichi Sugisaki, Sterling, Carol Kong, CBA's Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of, Ministry of Finance, U.S ., U.S, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Traders, Fed, New Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, CBA's Kong, New Zealand

☆ Dollar ascendant as Fed cut bets pared, jawboning props up yen
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar hovered near a 4-1/2-month high against major peers on Tuesday as traders rushed to push back bets for the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut this year. The U.S. dollar hovered near a 4-1/2-month high against major peers on Tuesday as traders rushed to push back bets for the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut this year. The U.S. rate futures market now factors in 61.3% odds of a Fed rate cut in June, down from about 70.1% probability a week ago, according to the CME's FedWatch tool. The Japanese yen firmed slightly on Tuesday to 151.565 per dollar, after dipping to 151.77 the previous day. Japanese authorities intervened in 2022 when the yen slid toward a 32-year low of 152 to the dollar.

Persons: –, Richard Franulovich, Sterling, Shunichi Suzuki, Westpac's, skidding, cryptocurrency bitcoin Organizations: U.S, Federal, Treasury, Bank of Japan's Locations: U.S, Japan

☆ Japan's finance minister says 'speculative' moves in currency market impacting yen
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The yen has been on a downtrend despite the BOJ's decision on March 19 to end eight years of negative interest rates. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Monday there were some speculative moves in the currency market that did not reflect economic fundamentals, repeating his warning against excessive yen declines. "We will watch currency market developments with a strong sense of urgency, and will respond appropriately against excessive moves without ruling out any options," Suzuki told parliament. Suzuki said various factors are driving currency moves such as the Bank of Japan's decision to end negative interest rates, Japan's current account balance, price moves, geopolitical risks, as well as market players' sentiment and speculative trades. "As for the yen's recent declines, we believe there are some speculative moves that do not reflect fundamentals when taking into account domestic and overseas economic as well as price developments," he said.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, Suzuki Organizations: Japanese Finance, Bank of

☆ Dollar firm after Fed comments; yen under close watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"There is no rush to cut the policy rate" right now, Waller said in a speech prepared for delivery before an Economic Club of New York gathering. The dollar index , a measure of the greenback against major peer currencies, ticked up in the wake of Waller's comments and last held mostly unchanged at 104.41. Traders await key U.S. core inflation figures due on Friday, following a bigger-than-expected jump in U.S. durable goods orders on Tuesday that has already boosted the dollar against the yen. The greenback reached 151.975 yen on Wednesday, its strongest against the yen since mid-1990. Japan intervened in the currency market three times in 2022, selling the dollar to buy yen, first in September and again in October as the yen slid towards a 32-year low of 152 to the dollar.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller, It's, Kyle Rodda, Rodda, Masato Kanda, Shunichi Suzuki, That's, Ray Attrill, Sterling, bitcoin Organizations: U.S, Federal Reserve, Federal, Economic, of New, Traders, Finance, National Australia Bank, Bank of Japan's Locations: of New York, Japan

☆ Japanese policymakers could intervene fairly soon in the economy, FX strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJapanese policymakers could intervene fairly soon in the economy, FX strategist saysValentin Marinov, managing director and global head of G10 FX and U.K. research at Credit Agricole, discusses the global foreign exchange market and the Bank of Japan's interest rates.

Persons: Valentin Marinov Organizations: Credit Agricole, Bank of

☆ Dollar dips, yen draws support from Tokyo's jawboning
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar was on the back foot on Tuesday, owing to profit taking and pressured in part by a slightly stronger yen as Japanese government officials continued with their jawboning to defend the currency. The dollar was on the back foot on Tuesday, owing to profit taking and pressured in part by a slightly stronger yen as Japanese government officials continued with their jawboning to defend the currency. "But it's even tougher for the (dollar) to weaken when other central banks were sounding more dovish than a dovish Fed." The dollar index was last 0.02% lower at 104.20, while the euro rose 0.03% to $1.0840. "While they say that the fundamentals don't justify the price, the market's telling them something else," said IG's Sycamore.

Persons: he's, Tony Sycamore, Thierry Wizman, Shunichi Suzuki Organizations: New Zealand, Federal, IG, FX, Macquarie, Fed, Japanese Finance, Bank of Japan's Locations: U.S, Japan, United States, Sycamore

☆ Intervention threat curbs dollar's ascent towards new high on the yen
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar was on the front foot on Monday and kept the yen pinned near a multi-decade low, though the threat of currency intervention from Japanese authorities prevented the greenback from heading further north. "Japanese officials' verbal intervention is making 152 a very strong near-term resistance for dollar/yen," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "Markets are fully aware of a potential actual FX intervention from authorities, so I think that's keeping dollar/yen from moving substantially higher. "I think there is still a high risk that they will come in to prop up the yen if dollar/yen were to surge materially perhaps to 155. The yuan has been pressured by growing market expectations of further monetary easing to prop up the world's second-largest economy.

Persons: Carol Kong, That's, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Chris Weston Organizations: Bank of Japan's, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Swiss National Bank, Sterling, Financial Times, ECB, New Zealand Locations: Japan, United States

☆ 'Mr Yen' says Japan could intervene if yen falls to 155
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Japanese authorities may intervene if the yen sinks to 155 to 160 against the dollar, according to a former top foreign exchange official Eisuke Sakakibara. The Bank of Japan's decision on Tuesday to exit the world's last remaining negative rates regime sparked a sell-off in the Japanese currency as Governor Kazuo Ueda reiterated monetary conditions will stay loose for the time being — given the fragile recovery in the Japanese economy. He also didn't commit to a terminal rate level. On Wednesday, ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision later in the day, the yen touched its weakest in four months against the dollar, falling to around 151 and tumbling against the euro to its lowest since 2008.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda Organizations: U.S Locations: U.S . Federal

The BOJ will now look to utilize its short-term interest rate as its primary policy tool. It will employ an interest rate of 0.1% to current account balances held by financial institutions at the central bank from March 21, while encouraging the uncollateralized overnight call rate (another interest rate used as a policy lever by the bank) to remain at around 0 to 0.1% — effectively raising interest rates from -0.1% previously. It would resort to "nimble responses" in the form of increased Japan government bond purchases and fixed-rate purchases of JGBs, among other things, if there is a rapid rise in long-term interest rates. Japanese investors have looked elsewhere for better returns given years of artificially depressed interest rates in their home market. The Fed is due to announce its own interest rate decision on Wednesday.

Persons: Japan Alexander Spatari, Kazuo Ueda, Rob Carnell, BOJ, Ueda, Michael Brown, —, JGBs, Vishnu Varathan, Hayden Briscoe, Briscoe Organizations: Japan's, Japan Inc, Asia, ING, CNBC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Bank of America, Barclays, U.S . Federal, UBS Asset Management Locations: Dotonbori, Japan, Japan's, U.S, Mizuho's, Asia

☆ The BOJ's decision to hike rates isn't a move toward a 'very hawkish' stance, strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe BOJ's decision to hike rates isn't a move toward a 'very hawkish' stance, strategist saysDavid Zervos, chief market strategist at Jefferies, discusses the Bank of Japan's historic decision to raise interest rates for the first time in 17 years.

Persons: David Zervos Organizations: Jefferies, Bank of

☆ Good to see the Bank of Japan moving back into the 'realms of normality': ING economist
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGood to see the Bank of Japan moving back into the 'realms of normality': ING economistRob Carnell of ING discusses the Bank of Japan's historic decision to raise interest rates for the first time in 17 years.

Persons: Rob Carnell Organizations: Bank of Japan, ING, Bank of

☆ CNBC Daily Open: U.S. consumer sentiment stays steady
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Wall Street gainsU.S. stocks ended higher on Monday as investors look ahead to monetary policy decision from the Federal Reserve. BYD push into emerging marketsChinese automaker BYD is aggressively expanding into emerging markets given policy uncertainty in the U.S. and Europe. They are really starting to become very creative in the AI world," he said of the company, known for its government contract work in defense and intelligence.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Blackwell, Amin Nasser, BYD, Brian Stutland, Palantir Organizations: CNBC, Wall Street, Federal Reserve, Dow, Nasdaq, Bank of, Equity, Investments Locations: Asia, San Jose, Aramco, Saudi Aramco, U.S, Europe, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Hungary, Uzbekistan

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate Tuesday for the first time in 17 years, ending a longstanding policy of negative rates meant to boost the economy. The negative interest rate policy, combined with other measures to inject money into the economy and keep borrowing costs low, “have fulfilled their roles,” Bank of Japan Gov. But it had remained cautious about “normalizing” monetary policy, or ending negative borrowing rates, even after data showed inflation at about that rate in recent months. Ueda said there was “a positive cycle” of a gradual rise of wages and prices, while stressing that monetary policy will remain easy for some time. The Japanese central bank's policy is quite different from those of the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

Persons: “, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Harumi Taguchi, Haruhiko Kuroda, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, ” Bank of Japan Gov, Bank of, Analysts, P Global Market Intelligence, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan Locations: Japan, Bank of Japan, U.S, China

☆ Bank of Japan scraps negative interest rate policy in 'monumental' decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBank of Japan scraps negative interest rate policy in 'monumental' decisionCNBC’s Kaori Enjoji outlines the Bank of Japan's exit strategy after its "monumental decision" to scrap its negative interest rate policy, hiking rates for the first time in 17 years.

Persons: Kaori Enjoji Organizations: Email Bank, Japan, of

☆ Bank of Japan has to perform a bit of a balancing act, UBS Asset Management says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBank of Japan has to perform a bit of a balancing act, UBS Asset Management saysHayden Briscoe, head of Asia-Pacific multi-asset portfolio management at UBS Asset Management, discusses the direction of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy.

Persons: Hayden Briscoe Organizations: Email Bank of, UBS, Management, UBS Asset Management, Bank Locations: Email Bank of Japan, Asia, Pacific

☆ BOJ decision will not usher in new high rate era, academic says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBOJ decision will not usher in new high rate era, academic saysSeijiro Takeshita, dean of the Graduate School of Management at the University of Shizuoka, says weakness in the Japanese economy means that the Bank of Japan's historic interest rate will not usher in a new era of higher rates.

Persons: Seijiro Takeshita Organizations: Graduate School of Management, University of Shizuoka, Bank of

☆ Negative interest rates are a 'stupid idea'; BOJ should have raised rates 'months ago': Chris Wood
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNegative interest rates are a 'stupid idea'; BOJ should have raised rates 'months ago': Chris WoodChris Wood of Jefferies weighs in on the Bank of Japan's equity purchases, calling the move "at best unnecessary, at worst totally counter-productive". He also criticized BOJ's negative interest rate policy.

Persons: Chris Wood Chris Wood, Jefferies Organizations: Bank of

☆ Uncertainty around Bank of Japan's next moves after rate rise, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUncertainty around Bank of Japan's next moves after rate rise, analyst saysSalman Ahmed, global head of macro and strategic asset allocation at Fidelity International, discusses the Bank of Japan's raising of interest rates for the first time since 2007, and what it means for the yen and equities.

Persons: Salman Ahmed Organizations: of Japan's, Fidelity International, Bank of

☆ Capital Economics says strong wage gains mean the Bank of Japan will likely hike rates in March
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCapital Economics says strong wage gains mean the Bank of Japan will likely hike rates in MarchMarcel Thieliant, head of Asia-Pacific for Capital Economics, discusses the outlook for the Bank of Japan's monetary policy.

Persons: Marcel Thieliant Organizations: Email Capital, Bank of, Capital Economics, Bank Locations: Bank of Japan, Asia, Pacific

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