Bank of Japan
Bank of Japan Policy Unchanged
April 28, 2022
The Bank of Japan continues to contrast starkly with the Fed’s rapid transition from a patient strategy to a hurry-up offense against inflation. A four hour 54 minute deliberation over two days by the BOJ policy board ended in unchanged policy settings despite marked revisions in projected inflation and growth. The meeting unveiled a quarterly […] More
New Multi-Year Highs in the Dollar
April 28, 2022
The weighted DXY dollar index has advanced 0.7% on balance today and touched a 19-year high of 103.93, which constitutes an appreciation of 43.3 in April 2008 during the subprime mortgage financial crisis. Overnight dollar highs included a 20-year peak of 131.01 against the Japanese yen and $1.0471 versus the euro. Compared to closing levels […] More
A Turn for the Worse in Ukraine-Russian Conflict Sends Dollar Up and Equities Down
March 18, 2022
Hopes had been kindled early this week by reports of progress in cease-fire talks, but those signs have not panned out, and a new worry is that China is moving closer to supporting Putin’s imperialistic ambitions. The Central Bank of Russia did not raise its 20% policy rate further at today’s scheduled review, claiming that […] More
Equities and Dollar Up Ahead of FOMC Announcement
January 26, 2022
Share prices so far today have climbed 1.8% or more in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Great Britain. Futures trading in the S&P 500, DJIA, and Nasdaq show overnight gains of 1.0 – 1.8%. Equities in Asia closed narrowly mixed with drops of 0.4% in Japan and South Korea but gains of 0.7% in China […] More
Equities Selling Off Further
January 18, 2022
Share prices in Asia fell 0.9% in India and South Korea, 0.8% in Taiwan and 0.3% in Japan. European stock markets currently show daily drops of 0.9% in Germany, 0.8% in France, 0.6% in Italy and 0.3% in Great Britain. In U.S. futures trading, the tech-intensive Nasdaq is 1.5% lower, and losses in the S&P […] More
Stock Markets Drop in Wake of Week’s Spotlight on Central Banks and World Inflation
December 17, 2021
Other factors weighing on investor appetite for riskier assets include Omicron, whose true threat to public health and economic growth remains uncertain, and congressional paralysis over President Biden’s Build Back Better Bill. Two more central banks hiked their interest rates. The Bank of Mexico‘s increase late Thursday of 50 basis points to 5.5% reflected a […] More
Bank of Japan Policy Unchanged
October 28, 2021
The Bank of Japan retained targets of -0.1% on its short-term policy interest rate and “around zero percent” for the 10-year JGB bond yield, according to today’s statement. In the 8-1 decision, Kataoka again favored a more expansionary stance. Today’s meeting coincided with publication of the quarterly Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices in which […] More
U.S. GDP, Monetary Policy Statements from ECB & Japan, and So Much More
October 28, 2021
Financial market activity overnight: The dollar and 10-year sovereign debt yields are little changed on this busy Thursday. Equities fell in Asia including losses of 1.2% in China, 1.0% in Japan, 1.2% in Indonesia, and 1.9% thus far in India. European share prices have risen a bit, however, and U.S. futures are also in the […] More
Bank of Japan: Same Ol, Same Ol
September 22, 2021
The Bank of Japan Board wrapped up its two-day policy review and decided by an 8-1 vote not to change its settings with Kataoka once again dissenting in favor of greater stimulus. The current policy framework anchored around a -0.1% short-term interest rate target, considerable quantitative stimulus, and a 10-year JGB yield objective of “around […] More
Marking Time Ahead of Powell Press Conference
September 22, 2021
The FOMC is expected to confirm that tapering of its bond purchase program will begin in the fourth quarter. The announcement by the Fed and release of updated economic forecasts will be made at 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT), followed by Chairman Powell’s press conference at 14:30. Earlier today, the Bank of Japan Board wrapped up […] More
