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☆ Dollar eases as Fed clues awaited; bitcoin hits 2-year high
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | 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. The U.S. dollar drifted weaker on Monday, pressured by lower Treasury yields, as traders waited for more crucial economic data for fresh clues on the timing of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. The U.S. dollar drifted weaker on Monday, pressured by lower Treasury yields, as traders waited for more crucial economic data for fresh clues on the timing of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. The euro was firm following Friday's 0.33% advance, with a European Central Bank, or ECB, policy decision looming on Thursday. That also weighed on Treasury yields, removing additional support for the dollar, with the benchmark 10-year yield sliding as low as 4.178% for the first time in two weeks.

Persons: Bias, Jerome Powell's, Kazuo Ueda, Hajime Takata, Christine Lagarde's, Bitcoin Organizations: U.S, European Central Bank, Bank of, Treasury, Congress, Westpac, ECB Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina

☆ Activist Elliott calls for a big buyback at Mitsui Fudosan — 3 ways the company may create value
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Business: Mitsui Fudosan is a Japan-based company engaged in the real estate business. Even as a commercial real estate company, Mitsui Fudosan does possess some brand power, which translates to premium pricing power. Mitsui Fudosan is grappling with a low valuation and return on equity in absolute terms and relative to peers. Right now, Mitsui Fudosan has 0.65 times price to adjusted book value (for real estate companies) and the lowest ROE among its peers. There are three things Mitsui Fudosan can do right away to create value for shareholders.

Persons: Elliott, Palliser, ROE, debatably, Dai, Takashi Ueda, Ken Squire Organizations: Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsui Home, Mitsui, Nikkei, Oriental Land Company, Tokyo, Mitsui Fudosan's, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Keisei Rail, Dai Nippon Printing, Dai Nippon, Services, 13D Locations: Japan, COOs, ValueAct, OLC, OLC .

☆ A college student is accused of trying to smuggle $2.4 million worth of drugs under a monk's robe
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A college student tried to smuggle drugs to Japan from Cambodia, the Japanese authorities say. AdvertisementA college student accused by the Japanese authorities of being a drug smuggler was caught in what one might call an unconventional disguise: a set of Buddhist monk's robes. On Tuesday, Japan Customs said in a statement that on January 25, it detained a Taiwanese man who tried to smuggle drugs into the country from Cambodia. The 21-year-old college student is accused of attempting to move around 13 pounds of stimulant drugs across the Japanese border, per a Thursday report from Japanese news outlet Yomiuri Shimbun. The drugs are worth about 370 million Japanese yen, or $2.4 million, the outlet reported.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Japan Customs, Yomiuri Shimbun, Business Locations: Japan, Cambodia

☆ Dollar steady as traders ponder Fed rate cut bets; yen shaky at 150 per dollar
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 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 data showed U.S. prices picked up in January in line with expectations, while annual inflation slipped to the lowest in three years. Takata's comments stoked expectations that the central bank could end negative rates in March rather than the widely held view of a move in April. The contrasting comments are likely to keep investors guessing about the next move from the central bank. The Australian dollar rose 0.08% to $0.65025, while the New Zealand dollar was little changed at $0.6088.

Persons: Raphael Bostic, Hajime Takata, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Traders, Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank, Bank of Japan, New Zealand Locations: United States, U.S, Atlanta

☆ Dollar waits on U.S. inflation reading, bitcoin tops $60,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar was firm and the yen was headed for a monthly loss in the lead up to U.S. inflation data that could ruffle the interest rate outlook, while bitcoin surged above $60,000. The U.S. dollar was firm and the yen was headed for a monthly loss in the lead up to U.S. inflation data that could ruffle the interest rate outlook, while bitcoin surged above $60,000. Bitcoin is on a tear and topped $63,000 overnight as it rides a wave of cash rushing to new U.S. bitcoin exchange-traded funds. It is up more than 45% this month, its largest gain since December 2020 and a record high above $69,000 is within sight. The New Zealand dollar nursed losses on bets that rate hikes there are finished.

Persons: bitcoin, Masato Kanda, Sue Ann Lee, Kristina Clifton, Sterling Organizations: U.S, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New, Federal, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Locations: Japan, U.S, Asia, Sao Paulo, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Europe

☆ He booked a one-way ticket to Thailand the day after finishing high school. Now he’s a top Bangkok chef
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Philipp Meier | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“I’m both a night and morning person,” says the Swedish-born executive head chef of Nordic-Asian fusion restaurant Villa Frantzen, one of only two Nordic restaurants in Thailand’s capital. Courtesy Villa Frantzén Restaurant & Bar“The broad spectrum you gain from exploring cuisines from all over the world is what lends every chef a unique skill set and better fundament for creation. Courtesy Villa Frantzén Restaurant & BarA dish of grilled duck and endive. Courtesy Villa Frantzén Restaurant & Bar“And I can go a long time with few hours of sleep a night. Villa Frantzén – Restaurant & Bar, 7 Soi Yen Akat 3, Chong Nonsi, Bangkok; +66 (0)87 344 8222.

Persons: “, ”, Corneliussen, ” Corneliussen, didn’t, Villa, Copenhagen –, Björn Frantzen, he’s, It’s, Chong Nonsi Organizations: Bangkok CNN, Villa, Nordic, Muay, CNN, Villa Frantzen, Michelin, Frantzen Locations: Bangkok, Swedish, Thailand’s, “, Thailand, Thai, Muay Thai, Sweden, Europe, Bangkok's Sathorn, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Asia, Thai Kingdom, Bangkok’s Sathorn, Bangkok’s

☆ The whole world is reaching all-time highs. Here’s what’s driving it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

On the surface, it may seem simple — global stocks are rallying, so there must be one universal driver, right? When this happens, the yen should strengthen and improve shareholder value in Japanese stocks, Arone said. "All of that gives you the ingredients you need to push stocks higher — not only U.S. stocks, but global stocks — in the next 12 months or so," he said. "I think that international stocks — Japan, Europe — have more room to go. Similar to Kelly, Kleintop recommended a more broad-based approach to playing this global rally.

Persons: It's, Charles Schwab's, Jeffrey Kleintop, they've, David Kelly, Michael Arone, Kelly, Arone, —, Kleintop, Fred Imbert Organizations: U.S, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Nikkei, CNBC, Nvidia, Asset Management, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Tokyo Stock Exchange, State, — Locations: United States, U.S, Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Asia, America, Eastern Europe, — Japan

☆ Dollar droops as key U.S. data looms; yen firms on CPI beat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The dollar traded on the back foot on Tuesday, as markets looked ahead to a week of key U.S. economic data that will provide fresh signals on how soon the Federal Reserve may begin cutting interest rates. The dollar traded on the back foot on Tuesday, as markets looked ahead to a week of key U.S. economic data that will provide fresh signals on how soon the Federal Reserve may begin cutting interest rates. The U.S. dollar index , which measures the currency against a basket of peers including the yen and euro, traded flat at 103.78 early in Asian time, following a 0.17% slide on Monday. U.S. durable goods data is due later on Tuesday, while January's U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index, which is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation, will be released Thursday. The dollar slipped 0.1% to 150.54 yen as a slightly hotter-than-expected reading for Japan's January consumer price index kept the BOJ on track to exit negative interest rate policy as soon as next month.

Persons: CME's, Richard Franulovich, Cryptocurrency bitcoin Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan's, U.S, January's, New Zealand, Aussie, Traders, Reserve Bank of New, MicroStrategy Inc Locations: January's U.S, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ Why India’s economy under Modi offers a real alternative to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The market value of companies listed on India’s exchanges crossed $4 trillion in late November. But the country is stuck in recession and recently lost its position as the world’s third biggest economy to Germany. While interest in the world’s fifth largest economy is rising, the lofty prices of India’s stocks are scaring some international investors away. According to Macquarie, retail investors alone own 9% of India’s equity market value versus foreign investors at slightly under 20%. China “has a few too many companies which are $100 and $200 billion plus [in value],” Mittal said.

Persons: Peeyush Mittal, there’s, ”, Mittal, They’ve, Narendra Modi, Indranil Mukherjee, Jefferies, “, MSCI, Aditya Suresh, Modi’s, Modi, there’ll, ” Suresh, shoring, Hubert de Barochez, Elon Musk, India “, ” Musk, Suresh, Satish Babu, China “, ” Mittal, Priyanka Agnihotri, Nirmala Sitharaman Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN —, Matthews Asia, Getty, Macquarie Capital, Bharatiya Janata Party, Monetary Fund, Jefferies, Capital Economics, Apple, Foxconn, ”, Workers, Chennai Metro Rail, Advisory, Indian Locations: New Delhi, Jaipur, San Francisco, India, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, Beijing, Washington, “ India, Macquarie, Chennai, Baltimore

☆ Dollar firms ahead of busy data week with U.S. inflation in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar was on the front foot on Monday ahead of a packed week filled with key economic releases that will provide further clues on the global interest rate outlook, with a U.S. inflation reading taking center stage. The dollar was on the front foot on Monday ahead of a packed week filled with key economic releases that will provide further clues on the global interest rate outlook, with a U.S. inflation reading taking center stage. The kiwi had risen 1.2% last week, helped by broad dollar weakness and the risk of a rate hike from the RBNZ on Wednesday. "If anything, the (data) may be stronger than markets currently expect, and that will likely give a modest boost to the dollar," said CBA's Kong. "But at the same time, any gains in the dollar will likely be pretty modest.

Persons: Carol Kong, Sterling, Jane Foley, CBA's Organizations: Reserve Bank of New, New Zealand, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, of Japan's, U.S, Rabobank, U.S . Commodity Futures, Fed Locations: Japan, Australia, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, China, Asia, U.S

☆ Yen sinks as currency traders keep short and carry on
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The yen is the worst-performing G10 currency this year, with a 6.4% slide on the dollar. For the week the yen is down 0.6% on the euro, touching its weakest for three months overnight at 163.45 per euro . Yen moves against the dollar were more modest due to the risk its slide could prompt intervention in markets from Japan, with officials reminding traders they stand ready in recent days. The dollar gained 0.1% to trade at 150.41 yen this week. Investors can earn interest, or carry, by borrowing yen around 0% and buying income-bearing assets in other currencies.

Persons: Moh Siong Sim, Sterling, Christine Lagarde, Christopher Waller Organizations: New, Deutsche, Britain, of Singapore, U.S, European Central Bank Locations: Japan, New Zealand, Friday's Asia, U.S, Europe

☆ Stocks in Japan Hit Record High, Surpassing 1989 Peak
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Joe Rennison | Jason Karaian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Stocks in Japan have looked cheap because of a weak yen, which has been a boon to exporters that make their profits overseas. Important changes to the corporate sector have also given shareholders more rights, allowing them to push for changes that favor their stock holdings. Earnings at large Japanese companies are set to rise by more than 40 percent in their latest quarterly results, according to Goldman Sachs. The biggest companies, like Toyota and SoftBank, have also reported some of the biggest earnings surprises, the bank’s analysts noted. Toyota recently rose to a record market value for a Japanese company, about $330 billion, surpassing the mark set in 1987 by the telecom conglomerate NTT.

Persons: haven’t, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Japan Exchange Group, Toyota, NTT Locations: Japan, China

☆ Japan's Nikkei surpasses 1989 all-time high on robust corporate earnings, investor-friendly measures
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Japan's Nikkei 225 hit a record high on Thursday as robust corporate profitability and steps aimed at boosting investor returns fuel a blistering rally in Japanese equities this year. The Nikkei 225 hit 38,924.88, surpassing the previous record high of 38,915.87 reached in 1989. Japan Inc's solid third-quarter corporate earnings have prompted Bank of America equity strategists to upgrade their 2024 year-end forecasts for the Nikkei 225 to 41,000 from 38,500. They raised their forecasts for the Topix to 2,850 from 2,715. The rally has also been supported by a weaker yen, which has shed about 6% against the dollar so far this year and seems on track to drop to to 33-year lows touched late last year.

Persons: outperformers Organizations: Nikkei, Bank of Locations: Asia, Japan

☆ Here's how to play Japan stocks, finally hitting a new high after 34 long years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Japan's Nikkei 225 index , a price-weighted index of 225 Japanese stocks, has also hit an historic high. A few months before that, on December 29, 1989, Japan's Nikkei 225 Index hit an historic high that stood until this week. That's about the amount the U.S. stock market dropped at the start of the Great Depression, from 1929 to 1932. .N225 5Y mountain Nikkei 225 Index in past five years. The Japanese stock market took 20 years.

Persons: it's, Japan's, Minoru Isutani, Arnold Palmer, Richard Ferris, Peter Ueberroth, Clint Eastwood, Nori, Bart Wakabayashi Organizations: Nikkei, CNBC, Japan's Nikkei, Mitsubishi, Rockefeller Center, Lone Cypress Company, Sumitomo Bank, Taiheiyo, Lone Cypress, Toyota, Honda, Sony, Hitachi, Nintendo, Sumitomo Mitsui, Japan Hedged Equity, Dow Jones, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Retailing, Softbank, Vision Fund, Foreign, Bank of Japan, White Oak Capital, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, New York, Japanese, California, Japan, U.S, Singapore

☆ Hirotake Yano, Japanese billionaire founder of 100-yen chain Daiso, dies at 80
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Hirotake Yano, the Japanese billionaire founder of Daiso Industries who helped popularize the discounted dollar-shop concept, has died of heart failure. Yano’s net worth was about $1.9 billion at the time of his death, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. It has grown into a retail empire, with over 4,360 stores across Japan and more than 990 overseas stores of the end of 2023, according to its website. Daiso first ventured overseas in 2001, opening branches in Taiwan and South Korea. The discount chain made over 550 billion yen ($ 3.6 billion) in sales as of February 2022, according to the privately-held company.

Persons: CNN — Hirotake Yano, Yano, Daiso Organizations: CNN, Daiso Industries, Bloomberg, Tokyo’s Chuo University, CouCou Locations: Hiroshima, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United States, Seria

☆ Megacap U.S. stocks are carrying the rest of the world. Here are the risks, and where to look for diversification
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Megacap tech stocks aren't just powering the U.S. stock market — they're also holding the world together. U.S. equities now comprise 70% of the MSCI World Index, the benchmark for large- and mid-cap companies across 23 developed markets. The MSCI World Index shifts regional and country weights based on broader economic trends. High levels of market concentration in the late 1920s to early 1930s, as well as 2000, coincided with a market top, he noted. The Europe Stoxx 600 has risen only 2.6% year to date, underperforming the U.S. broad market index.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Scott Rubner, Peter Berezin, Berezin, NVDA, Phillip Colmar, that's, Mike Dickson, Dickson, Warren Buffett's, Colmar, It's, you've, Germany DAX Organizations: Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, BCA Research, Big Tech, MRB Partners, Horizon Investments, Nikkei, British FTSE, France CAC Locations: U.S, Europe, Colmar, Japan, Asia, Germany, France

☆ I bought a house in Japan for less than $45,000. I live in the peaceful countryside close to every convenience, and everything's cheaper here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ned Watson bought a home in Japan that had been abandoned for two years for less than $50,000. The lack of guns and violence is one of the best things about Japan. My house was abandoned for two years, but didn't need much workI've been living in Japan since 2010, and I got this house in late 2019. I could basically live this lifestyle forever for $20,000 a year, which to me is not a lot of money. So really think about the area that the place is in, what type of personal infrastructure you're going to need to live there.

Persons: Ned Watson, Watson, I've, they're, you'll, It's, that's, it's, you've, I'm, Ned — he's Organizations: Tokyo Station Locations: Japan, Shisui, Japan's Chiba Prefecture, Australia, Georgia, America, New York City, Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Narita City, Narita, Watson's

☆ Dollar steady as sticky inflation dents rate cut expectations
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

United States one dollar bills are curled and inspected during production at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington. The dollar was steady on Monday after data last week showing U.S. inflation remained sticky cast doubts on when the Federal Reserve would start its easing cycle, while the yen remained rooted near the psychologically key 150 per dollar level. Chandler said there appears little on the charts to deter a test to last year's low of 152 per dollar level. Several Fed officials including Christopher Waller and Raphael Bostic are also due to speak this week. The Australian dollar rose 0.29% to $0.655, while the New Zealand dollar advanced 0.34% to $0.614.

Persons: Marc Chandler, Chandler, Christopher Waller, Raphael Bostic, Christopher Wong, BOE Organizations: Engraving, Federal Reserve, of Finance, Bannockburn Global, Data, Citi, Investor, Bank of England's, New Zealand Locations: United, Washington, Bannockburn, Bannockburn Global Forex

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Asia after Chinese markets reopened Monday from a long Lunar New Year holiday. Markets will be closed Monday in the United States for President's Day. Elsewhere in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher to 7,665.10 and the Kospi in Seoul picked up 1.2%, to 2,680.26. It also discouraged bets that a Fed move to relax conditions on the economy and financial markets could come even in May. Higher rates and yields make borrowing more expensive, slowing the economy and hurting prices for investments.

Persons: Hang Seng, Australia's Organizations: President's, Ocean, China Vanke, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, United States, China, Shanghai, Seoul, India

☆ The Fed is set to cut rates this year. Here are the Asian currencies that stand to benefit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Brent Lewin | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates later this year and, while that may not be good news for the dollar , some Asian currencies stand to benefit. Higher interest rates boost a country's currency, attracting foreign investment and increasing demand for the country's currency. A weak U.S. dollar is generally positive for emerging markets, which is often the case when the Fed cuts interest rates outside of an economic crisis. Experts told CNBC currencies such as the Chinese yuan , the Korean won and the Indian rupee stand to benefit from the Fed loosening monetary policy. So those are also positive for the Indian currency," said Anindya Banerjee, vice president of currency and derivatives research at Kotak Securities.

Persons: Mahatma Gandhi, Brent Lewin, Yuan, Arun Bharath, Bharath, Simon Harvey , , Anindya Banerjee, Banerjee, South Korea's, Monex's Harvey Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, . Federal, CNBC, Korean, Bel Air Investment Advisors, People's Bank of, FX, U.S, Kotak Securities, Bank of, Korea's, South Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, China, People's Bank of China, U.S, Bank of India, India, Europe, America

☆ Despite Japan’s economic recession, Asian stocks rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Diksha Madhok | Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong/New Delhi CNN —Japan’s stock market defied gloomy economic data to rally Friday, lifting broader Asian shares and ending the week on a buoyant note. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed above 38,000 points for the second day in a row, just a whisker off its historic peak reached in December 1989. “If anything, the window of opportunity created by the weak yen is encouraging international investors, as they suspect it will close soon,” he added. The MSCI’s broadest index of Asian shares excluding Japan closed more than 1% higher. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 closed at a record high of 5,029.73 Thursday as US stocks bounced back from steep losses earlier this week.

Persons: ”, Neil Newman, Stephen Innes, Austan Goolsbee, Innes, Korea’s Organizations: Hong Kong / New Delhi CNN, Analysts, Japan, Dow, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Fed, Chicago Fed Locations: Hong Kong / New Delhi, Tokyo, United Kingdom, Asia, Pacific, New York, China

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares advanced in Asia on Friday, with Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index trading near a record high, 35 years after it peaked and then plunged with the collapse of Japan's financial bubble. U.S. futures were lower after stocks on Wall Street set a fresh record following some mixed reports on the economy. It has been hovering just below the record high of 38,915.87 that it set on Dec. 29, 1989, right before a plunge in share and property prices ushered in an era of slower, faltering growth. Taiwan's Taiex edged 0.2% lower a day after breaching a record high of 18,644.57 as major market mover TSMC, the world's biggest computer chip maker, surged nearly 8%. On Thursday, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 5,029.73, squeaking past its all-time high set last week.

Persons: Australia's, Shack, Wells Organizations: —, Nikkei, Nvidia, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, U.S, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Fed, CBRE, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Hong, Seoul, India, Wall

☆ I've been moving back and forth between Japan and the US for years. The quality of life in Japan is much better.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Emery Bowles quit his job in the US and moved to Japan to teach English in 2008. Bowles found life in Japan safe and beautiful, despite language barriers and cultural differences. He and his wife plan to keep moving between Japan and the US to expose their son to both cultures. My wife was wary at first about leaving Japan, but the job paid better than teaching, so she got on board. While I love both places, the quality of life is better in Japan.

Persons: Emery Bowles, Bowles, —, that’s, I’ve Organizations: Service, Google Locations: Japan, Asia, Europe, Wakayama, Osaka, America, Georgia, Iwakuni, Tokyo

☆ Japan slipped into a technical recession. The Bank of Japan has to juggle supporting the yen and fragile growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda is under pressure to stem yen depreciation driven by the divergence between high U.S. interest rates and Japan's ultra easy policy. Yet, he is also constricted by high inflation that BOJ policymakers still deem unsustainable, even as it crimped domestic demand and tipped the economy into a technical recession. She previously served as a member of BOJ policy board from 2011 to 2016, helping to make monetary policy decisions. At its January meeting, the BOJ decided unanimously to keep short-term interest rates at -0.1%. BOJ policymakers have been cautious and fastidious with their primary task: reflating an economy that's been mired in decades of deflationary pressures.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Sayuri Shirai, CNBC's, dousing, BOJ, Shirai Organizations: Istock, Getty, Bank of Japan, Germany, Keio University Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Dollar steady as traders weigh economic data, yen fragile
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar was steady on Friday, on track for its fifth straight weekly gain, as investors take stock of economic data and firm expectations of the Federal Reserve cutting rates in June, while the yen traded at the psychologically key 150 per dollar level. But overall market expectations on the timing of the first Fed cut and magnitude of the cut will continue to drive volatility in FX markets." "We will likely soon contemplate the appropriate time for monetary policy to become less restrictive," Bostic said. Investor focus has been on comments from policymakers, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due to give the Senate banking committee its biannual monetary policy update on March 7. The Australian dollar eased 0.20% to $0.651, while the New Zealand dollar is down 0.21% to $0.609.

Persons: Christopher Wong, Raphael Bostic, Bostic, Jerome Powell, pare, Kieran Williams, bitcoin Organizations: Federal Reserve, PPI, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal, Asia FX, InTouch, Markets, New Zealand Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Singapore, U.S, Japan, Asia, Germany

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