The Bank of Japan will maintain its current monetary policy approach as underlying inflation remains below the 2% target, despite core consumer inflation staying above target for the 16th straight month in July, according to BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda.
The Bank of Japan surprised financial markets by announcing "greater flexibility" in its monetary policy, specifically loosening its yield curve control, which has led to speculation about a potential tightening of monetary policy and the end of the policy measure.
Japan's inflation is "clearly in sight" of the central bank's target, according to board member Naoki Tamura, suggesting the possibility of ending negative interest rates early next year.
Former Bank of Japan board member Goushi Kataoka believes that the central bank can only shift away from its easy monetary policy once it has achieved its 2% inflation target sustainably, with wage negotiations in 2024 playing a key role in this process. Kataoka expects the Bank of Japan to gradually remove its yield curve control and negative interest rate policies before exiting its easy policy. He also emphasizes the importance of cooperation between the Japanese government and central bank in achieving the inflation target.
Investors are concerned about the possibility of intervention in Tokyo after the yen reached its weakest level against the dollar in 10 months, while Asian markets fell due to worries of another US Federal Reserve interest rate hike and a jump in oil prices.
The Bank of Japan has signaled a possible early end to its easy money stance, with the central bank considering interest rate hikes and an early end to its bond-buying policy, which caught markets off guard and caused the yen to surge and Japanese government bond yields to reach a 9-year high.
Bank of Japan policymakers are discussing the need to shift away from the massive monetary stimulus of the past decade, suggesting a potential policy change in response to growing price pressures and changes in Japan's deflation-prone economy.
Japanese long-term interest rates and the yen rose after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda hinted at the possibility of ending the bank's negative interest rate policy.
The Bank of Japan's potential shift away from negative interest rate policy has ignited the Japanese Government Bond and currency markets, with the yen seeing its biggest rise in two months and the 10-year JGB yield reaching its highest point in almost a decade.
Japan's ruling party lawmaker Hiroshige Seko supports maintaining an ultra-loose monetary policy, following comments by the Bank of Japan governor that caused the yen and bond yields to rise.
Asia-Pacific markets slipped as investors await central bank decisions, including the U.S. Federal Reserve's announcement on Thursday and the Bank of Japan's meeting on Friday, while Australia's central bank will release its policy meeting minutes on Tuesday and China's central bank is set to release loan prime rate decisions on Friday.
Asian stock markets mostly declined, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading losses, as investors were concerned about upcoming central bank decisions and the possibility of the Bank of Japan ending its negative interest-rate policy.
The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain ultra-low interest rates and reassure markets that monetary stimulus will continue amidst China's economic struggles and the global impact of US interest rates.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) may become the most significant uncertainty factor in global markets as it potentially unwinds its negative interest rate policy and yield curve control, which could have knock-on effects on risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
The Bank of Japan has decided to maintain its ultra-loose policy and keep interest rates unchanged due to uncertainties in domestic and global economic growth.
Asia-Pacific markets fell as the Bank of Japan kept rates unchanged and noted a "moderate recovery" in the economy, while Japan's private sector activity expanded at its slowest pace since February and the country's August inflation rate remained above the BOJ's target for the 17th straight month.
If the Japanese yen weakens beyond 150 to the dollar, the Bank of Japan could be forced to hike rates sooner than expected, which may lead to the unwinding of the yen carry trade and a return of Japanese capital to domestic bond markets, potentially triggering market volatility.
Japanese consumer inflation grew above expectations in August, potentially signaling a move away from negative interest rates as the Bank of Japan meets to discuss its monetary policy.
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