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☆ BOJ discussed factors for exiting easy policy at Sept meeting; 10-yr JGBs falter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: Japanese national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2023. Under yield curve control (YCC), the BOJ guides short-term interest rates at -0.1% and the 10-year bond yield around zero. A Reuters poll in September forecast that the central bank will end its negative interest rate policy some time next year and YCC by end of 2024. “Even if the BOJ were to terminate its negative interest rate policy, this can be considered as continuation of monetary easing if real interest rates remain negative. But he has also said the BOJ will consider an exit when sustained, stable achievement of its price target is in sight.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda’s, Governor Ueda, Ueda Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Reuters, Bank Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan, YCC

☆ BOJ increases Wednesday's bond purchase as 10-year JGB yields hit decade peak
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A pedestrian walks past the Bank of Japan (BoJ) building in central Tokyo on July 28, 2023. Richard A. Brooks | Afp | Getty ImagesThe Bank of Japan announced it's increasing its bond purchases at Wednesday's auction, as a spike in government bond yields tests its resolve to defend its yield curve control policy. Yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds hit as much as 0.775% Monday, its highest since September 2013 and nearing the BOJ's hard 1% cap. The Japanese yen shed nearly 0.3% to about 149.73 yen against the dollar, nearing the 150 yen level that prompted BOJ intervention last year. Hawkish comments in the minutes of a lively BOJ September policy meeting released earlier Monday reignited expectations the BOJ is slowly laying the groundwork for the end to negative interest rates.

Persons: Richard A, Brooks, it's, BOJ, Hawkish, Kazuo Ueda's, Ueda's Organizations: Bank of Japan, Afp, Getty, of Japan Locations: Tokyo

☆ Inpex CEO discusses 'various pathways' for the energy transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | 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 EmailInpex CEO discusses 'various pathways' for the energy transitionTakayuki Ueda, Inpex CEO, speaks to CNBC's Dan Murphy and Steve Sedgwick about the energy transition in Asia, especially regarding costs.

Persons: Takayuki Ueda, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Steve Sedgwick Organizations: Inpex Locations: Asia

☆ BOJ dispels view risk of loss will impede easy-policy exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks at a group interview with media in Tokyo, Japan, May 25, 2023. "The objective of the Bank's monetary policy is achieving price stability, which is its mission as stipulated by law. "A central bank's ability to conduct monetary policy is not impaired by a temporary decrease in its profits and capital, provided that it conducts appropriate monetary policy," he said. Some academics have warned the BOJ's huge balance sheet will make an exit from ultra-loose policy difficult by exposing it to massive losses that could put its credibility on the line. But he has also said the BOJ will consider an exit when sustained, stable achievement of its price target is in sight.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Kim Kyung, Ueda, Haruhiko, Leika Kihara, William Mallard, Sonali Paul, Michael Perry Organizations: Japan, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Japan Society of Monetary, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO

☆ Yen intervention a hard sell even as 150 to the dollar 'red line' beckons
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But, Japanese authorities could find propping up their currency both difficult to achieve and hard to justify. To make even a ripple in the $5 trillion currency market, the BOJ would need to draw down massive amounts of dollar reserves. Wakabayashi, like many other analysts and investors, considers the 150 yen per dollar level a red line for currency intervention, not least because of its significance as a symbol of climbing costs of living from imported food and fuel. INTERVENTION IMMINENTThe yen careened to a 32-year trough at 151.94 last October before being reined in by several bouts of heavy intervention, the first by Japanese authorities in a generation. Measures of expected market volatility remain subdued.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Bank of Japan's hesitancy, Kazuo Ueda, You've, they're, Bart Wakabayashi, Fumio Kishida, Shunichi Suzuki, Masayuki Kichikawa, Ray Attrill, Janet Yellen, Aninda Mitra, Mitra, Kevin Buckland, Alun John, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: National Printing Bureau, Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan's, U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S, Treasury, Fed, State Street Bank, Trust, Finance, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Ministry of Finance, National Australia Bank, BNY Mellon Investment Management, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Washington, Asia, London

A woman looks at items at a shop in Tokyo, Japan, March 24, 2023. The Tokyo core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food but includes fuel costs, rose 2.5% in September from a year earlier, against a median market forecast for a 2.6% gain. It slowed from a 2.8% increase in August but exceeded the Bank of Japan's 2% target for the 16th straight month. Analysts expect inflation to keep slowing in coming months reflecting recent declines in commodity prices and the base effect of last year's sharp rises. The inflation overshoot led the BOJ to make modest tweaks to its bond yield control policy last month, a move investors saw as a shift away from decades of ultra-loose monetary policy.

Persons: Androniki, Kazuo Ueda, Leika Kihara, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Japan's, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO

☆ BOJ's July debate highlights rift in view on rate hike timing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2023. One member said there was "still a significantly long way to go" before the BOJ can revise its negative interest rate policy, the minutes showed. One member said inflation could overshoot expectations as a tight job market prod firms to hike pay. But the BOJ has maintained its dovish guidance on the view a premature exit from ultra-loose policy could hurt a fragile recovery, and push Japan back into economic stagnation. Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Leika Kihara, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Companies, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Europe, TOKYO, United States

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Has the BOJ been ambiguous in its communication?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Javier Ghersi | Moment | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Korea's Kospi slumped 1.2% to multi-month lows, while the Hang Seng Index slipped 0.9% to lows last seen in August. [PRO] Luxury playsBank of America upgraded three luxury stocks that are bucking the negative trends afflicting the broader sector in Europe. Is his professorial tendency to think aloud and entertain various scenarios getting in the way of clearer market communication?

Persons: Javier Ghersi, Korea's Kospi, Bob Smith, Dave Limp, Smith, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Stanley Fischer, bank's Organizations: CNBC, Treasury, Amazon, Blue Origin, European, Coy, Huawei, Luxury, Bank of America, Bank, Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Reading Locations: Japan, Asia, Europe, Osaka

[1/3] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 20, 2023. The 30-year bond was last up 11.8 basis points to yield 4.6397%, from 4.522%. The 2-year note was last was down 0.9 basis points to yield 5.1141%, from 5.123%. In currencies, the dollar index rose 0.455%, with the euro down 0.69% to $1.0578.Sterling was last trading at $1.22, down 0.31% on the day. In energy markets, oil prices edged lower in choppy trade on Monday as Russia relaxed its fuel ban, after earlier gains on a tighter supply outlook, while investors eyed elevated interest rates that could curb demand.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Powell, Austan Goolsbee, Mona Mahajan, Edward Jones, Mahajan, Sterling, Kazuo Ueda, Brent, Sinéad Carew, Amanda Cooper, Stella Qiu, Himani Sarkar, Jacqueline Wong, Miral Fahmy, Mark Heinrich, David Gregorio Our Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, Chicago Fed, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Russia, New York, London

☆ Yen falls to fresh 11-month low against dollar, focus on intervention risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Joice Alves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The dollar rose against the yen to an almost 11-month high on Monday following last week's gains, keeping traders focused on Japan intervention risks. The Japanese currency remained within striking distance of 150, a level which some market watchers saw as a line in the sand that would spur forex intervention from Japanese authorities similar to that of last year. A yen overshooting would be seen by many as a catalyst for renewed interventions to strengthen the Japanese currency, similarly to last year, she added. EURO FACES GROWTH FEARSThe euro edged 0.1% lower to $1.0633, moving towards a six-month low of $1.0615 touched on Friday against a stronger dollar.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Esther Reichelt, Nick Rees, we've, Reichelt, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, Sterling, Joice Alves, Alun John, Ed Osmond, Bernadette Baum Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Commerzbank, Federal Reserve, FX, Monex, SBB, European Central Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Japan, Swedish, Monex Europe, London

☆ Shares drop as 'higher-for-longer' rate outlook rattles investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, September 22, 2023. The MSCI All-World index (.MIWD00000PUS), which is heading for its worst monthly performance this year, with a 3.6% drop, was down 0.2% on the day. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields have nudged at 4.5% for the first time since October 2007, and on Monday were up 5 basis points at 4.491%, set for their largest monthly rise in a year, reflecting investor unease over the economic outlook. The dollar index got a boost from the rise in Treasury yields, rising 0.1% on the day. Brent crude futures rose 0.2% to $93.48 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 0.1% to $90.16.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Frederik Ducrozet, Ducrozet, Powell, Evergrande, Andrew Lilley, Kazuo Ueda, Stella Qiu, Himani Sarkar, Jacqueline Wong, Miral Fahmy, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Global, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Pictet Wealth Management, Nasdaq, Barrenjoey, Bank of Japan, Brent, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S, Europe, CHINA

☆ Strong dollar sends yen to 11-month low, focus on intervention risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Joice Alves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. In the broader currency market, the dollar steadied after last week's gains as the Federal Reserve surprised markets by signalling U.S. rates would need to stay higher for longer than initially expected. The yen was last flat at 148.38 per dollar after falling to its lowest level of 148.49 per dollar since late October. "It is possible of course that exactly such fears of interventions might have prevented a weaker yen for now". The dollar index , which on Friday touched an over six-month high, firmed at 105.64 and was last 0.1% higher.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Esther Reichelt, Reichelt, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, Sterling, Joice Alves, Rae Wee, Ed Osmond Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Japan, London, Singapore

☆ Asian shares slip after brutal central bank week, yen in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A passerby walks past an electric monitor displaying various countries' stock price index outside a bank in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2023. S&P 500 futures , however, rose 0.3% while Nasdaq futures gained 0.4%, after Hollywood's writers union reached a preliminary labor agreement with major studios. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) dropped 0.5%, edging back to a 10-month low plumbed just last week. U.S. central bank officials will be out in force this week, starting with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari on Monday. Brent crude futures rose 0.6% to $93.79 per barrel.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, HSI, Louis Kuijs, Neel Kashkari, Andrew Lilley, Stella Qiu, Himani Sarkar, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, Hengda, Estate Group Co, U.S, Minneapolis, European Central Bank, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Europe SYDNEY, China, U.S, Europe, Asia, Pacific, firming, U.S . Federal

☆ Sliding yen raises intervention threat, dollar reigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. "I don't think the level matters that much and will be the trigger (for intervention). Yellen said last week whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. Elsewhere, the euro gained 0.05% to $1.0649, after having fallen to a six-month low of $1.0615 on Friday against a stronger dollar. The dollar index , which on Friday touched an over six-month high, firmed at 105.58.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Governor Ueda, Carol Kong, Janet, Yellen, Sterling, Thierry Wizman, Rae Wee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Treasury, Bank, Fed, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Washington, Japan, U.S

☆ Asian shares fall after brutal central bank week, yen under spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A passerby walks past an electric monitor displaying various countries' stock price index outside a bank in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2023. The yen was jittery near the closely watched 150 per dollar level amid intervention fears, after the Bank of Japan made no change to its dovish monetary policy. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) dropped 0.6%, edging closer to a ten-month low plumbed just last week. Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan, expects good news from U.S. and European inflation results this week, which should show low core inflation readings. The yen last traded at 148.41 per dollar, after hitting a fresh 10-month low of 148.49 earlier in the day.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Hong, HSI, Louis Kuijs, Andrew Lilley, Bruce Kasman, Stella Qiu, Sonali Paul, Himani Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Japan's Nikkei, U.S, JPMorgan, U.S ., Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, U.S, Europe, Asia, Pacific, U.S . Federal

☆ Sliding yen stokes intervention threat; dollar reigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. "I don't think the level matters that much and will be the trigger (for intervention). Yellen said last week whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. Elsewhere, the euro gained 0.04% to $1.0649, after having fallen to a six-month low of $1.0615 on Friday against a stronger dollar. The dollar index , which on Friday touched an over six-month high, firmed at 105.57 in early Asia trade.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Governor Ueda, Carol Kong, Janet, Yellen, Sterling steadied, Thierry Wizman, Rae Wee Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Treasury, Bank, Fed, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Washington, Japan, U.S, Asia

☆ BOJ chief warns of highly uncertain wage, price outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The key to the outlook for monetary policy is whether strong wage growth and consumption, rather than cost pressures from rising import costs, become the key driver of inflation, Ueda said. Ueda said the BOJ was "not fully convinced" that wage hikes would keep accelerating, as many companies seemed undecided on their wage strategy for next year and beyond. That's why we are supporting demand and the broader economy with easy monetary policy," he added. While stressing the need to keep ultra-loose policy for now, Ueda said it was "extremely important" to weigh the benefits and costs of its policy. On the yen's recent falls, Ueda said the BOJ was keeping a close eye on their impact on economic and price developments.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Kim Kyung, Ueda, Shingo Torii, Leika Kihara, Chang, Ran Kim, Sam Holmes, Ed Osmond Organizations: Japan, REUTERS, Ueda, Bank of Japan, Panasonic, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Ueda OSAKA, Osaka

☆ Sliding yen stokes intervention threat, dollar reigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An employee counts Japanese 10,000 yen banknotes at the Birdy Exchange in Hong Kong, China. Several factors were supporting the recovery in the Japanese yen on Tuesday. Yellen said last week whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. Elsewhere, the euro gained 0.04% to $1.0649, after having fallen to a six-month low of $1.0615 on Friday against a stronger dollar. The dollar index , which on Friday touched an over six-month high, firmed at 105.57 in early Asia trade.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Governor Ueda, Carol Kong, Janet, Yellen, Sterling steadied, Thierry Wizman Organizations: Birdy, Bank of Japan, Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, U.S, Treasury, Bank, Fed, New Zealand Locations: Hong Kong, China, Washington, Japan, U.S, Asia

☆ Dollar up as data highlights US economic resilience; yen slumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The data comes on the heels of disappointing data from Europe, which showed that economic activity in France fell much more quickly than expected in September. Separate survey data covering the whole euro zone showed that the economy likely contracted in the third quarter. The yen dropped as low as 148.42 to the dollar, nearing the 150-mark at which analysts have said government intervention to prop up the currency is likely. BOJ maintains ultra-low interest ratesMeanwhile, sterling was 0.47% lower at $1.2237 after data showed that the UK economy slowed sharply in September and is likely on the brink of recession.

Persons: Florence Lo, Michael Brown, Brown, Michelle Bowman, Kazuo Ueda, we've, Alvin Tan, Shunichi Suzuki, BoE, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Harry Robertson, Rae Wee, Sharon Singleton, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, P Global, Federal, Trader, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, Europe, France, Asia, Tokyo, New York, London, Singapore

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The BOJ held interest rates at -0.1% on Friday and reiterated its pledge to keep supporting the economy until it's confident inflation will stay at the 2% target. "We have yet to foresee inflation stably and sustainably achieve our price target," BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said in a press conference. The yen dropped as low as 148.42 to the dollar, nearing the 150-mark at which analysts have said government intervention to prop up the currency is likely. It was on track to eke out a weekly increase of around 0.2%, its 10th rise in as many weeks.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, we've, Alvin Tan, Shunichi Suzuki, RBC's Tan, Treasuries, Ray Sharma, Ong, Sterling, BoE, Harry Robertson, Rae Wee, Christopher Cushing, Sonali Paul, Christina Fincher Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Japan's Finance, Ministry, Finance, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, France, Asia, Tokyo, London, Singapore

☆ Asia stocks find footing, yen slides as BOJ holds the line
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man is reflected on an electric stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 18, 2023. The BOJ, as expected, maintained super-low interest rates, left its yield control policy unchanged, signalling it was in no rush to phase out its massive monetary stimulus. A surge in oil prices has also been unnerving investors, since it is likely to prolong the inflation pulse. Brent crude futures steadied at $93.51 a barrel on Friday and are up nearly 8% for September so far. Elsewhere in foreign exchange markets the expectation of sticky U.S. interest rates has supported the dollar, which reached a six-month peak on the euro overnight at $1.0671 .

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Ray Attrill, Andrew Bailey, Craig Ebert, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, FX, National Australia Bank, Japan's Nikkei, Seng, Federal Reserve, Bank of, Swiss National Bank, Brent, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SINGAPORE, Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, China, Bank of England, Central, Sweden, Norway, BNZ, Wellington

☆ Yen falls after BOJ stands pat on easy policy; dollar elevated
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The yen last bought 148.09 per U.S. dollar. Sterling similarly eked out a 0.3% gain against the Japanese currency to trade at 181.80 yen. "I guess people were expecting the BOJ to leave policy unchanged but perhaps tweak the wording a bit to remove the accommodative stance." The New Zealand dollar edged 0.08% higher to $0.5936 and was eyeing a weekly gain of more than 0.5%.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Sterling, Siong Sim, Shunichi Suzuki, Ray Sharma, Ong, BoE, Daniela Hathorn, Rae Wee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Bank of Singapore, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Japan's Finance, New Zealand, Fed, Bank of England, Capital.com, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE

The data comes hours before the Bank of Japan (BOJ) concludes its two-day policy meeting that began on Thursday. While government subsidies pushed down utility bills, prices rose for a range of food and daily necessities in a sign that steady inflation was taking hold in the world's third-largest economy. "The persistent stickiness of inflation means the BOJ will need to revise up their inflation forecasts at its October meeting," said Gabriel Ng, an economist at Capital Economics. After hitting a peak of 4.2% in January, core inflation continued to slow as the effects of last year's sharp rises in fuel and raw material prices dissipate. But some analysts say the slowdown has not been as large as expected due to steady rises in food prices, and could keep inflation above the BOJ's target longer than initially thought.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Gabriel Ng, Ueda, Leika Kihara, Shri Navaratnam, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Asia markets poised for fall ahead of Bank of Japan rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Asia-Pacific markets are set to fall ahead of the Bank of Japan's rate decision, which investors will be closely watching to determine if the central bank will make any change to its ultra-easy monetary policyA poll of Reuters economists showed that economists all expect the BOJ to hold its benchmark policy rate at -0.1%. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has maintained that an ultra-easy monetary policy is needed until Japan sees a sustained inflation at 2%. Japan's headline inflation figures have remained above this target since April 2022, with the latest reading coming in at 3.2% for August.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Bank of Locations: Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ Morning Bid: Bank of Japan also holds policy and stays dovish
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Japanese national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2023. The yen fell in response, even as Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki spoke of the urgency to contain its fall. A majority of economists polled by Reuters expect the central bank will abolish the 10-year yield control scheme by the end of 2024. More than half reckon that the negative interest rate policy will end next year, too. Further complicating the picture for investors, however, were the surprisingly dovish decisions from the Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank.

Persons: Issei Kato, Vidya Ranganathan, Shunichi Suzuki, Kazuo Ueda, Bond, Fumio Kishida, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Reuters, MSCI's, Bank of England, Swiss National Bank, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Vidya, MSCI's Asia, India, Australia, Germany, France, Britain

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