Japan higher rates expand debt pile, balanced budget seen delayed again
Japan fiscal estimates assume higher interest rates than beforeBOJ’s move to widen 10-yr target band heaps pressure on ratesJapan seen to lag FY2025 budget balancing target by one yearTOKYO, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Japan raised its estimates for long-term interest rates over the coming few years in government’s twice-yearly fiscal projections issued on Tuesday, following […]
Japan’s factory activity extends declines for third straight month – PMI
TOKYO, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Japan’s manufacturing activity contracted for a third straight month in January as export weakness persisted amid a worsening global outlook, a corporate survey showed on Tuesday.The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was at a seasonally adjusted 48.9 in January, unchanged from the final reading in […]
Japan warns of dire finances as BOJ struggles to contain yields
Japan’s finances intensified severity to unprecedented pointRounds of extra budget, stimulus measures aggravate financesPublic finance is the cornerstone of a country’s trust – finminEconomic revival comes first before fiscal reform in long runParliament debate begins, all eyes on new BOJ governor nomineeTOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Japan’s finances are becoming increasingly precarious, Finance Minister Shunichi […]
Gold gains on softer dollar, slower Fed rate-hike bets
U.S. weekly jobless claims data due at 1330 GMTGold benefiting from flight to safety after U.S. data – analystU.S. producer prices fall more than expected in DecemberJan 19 (Reuters) – Gold prices rose on Thursday and are set to snap a three-day losing streak, helped by a weaker dollar and as signs of cooling U.S. […]
Gold back up above $1,900 level as dollar loses ground
Jan 18 (Reuters) – Gold reversed course to trade higher on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar pulled back from session highs and expectations of a slower pace of Federal Reserve rate hikes supported prices above the $1,900 threshold.Having dipped in the last two sessions, spot gold rose 0.5% to $1,917.26 per ounce by 1254 GMT, […]
China’s 2022 economic growth one of the worst on record, post-pandemic policy faces test
China Q4 GDP growth slows; 2022 growth one of worst on record2022 GDP grows 3.0%, far below official targetDec factory output, retail sales weak but beat expectationsPopulation shrinks for the first time since 1961Policymakers vow to step up support for economy in 2023BEIJING, Jan 17 (Reuters) – China’s economic growth in 2022 slumped to one […]
Household wealth optimism collapses, global survey shows
Jan 16 (Reuters) – Barely two in five people believe their families will be better off in the future, according to a regular global survey that also identified growing levels of distrust in institutions among low-income households.The Edelman Trust Barometer, which for over two decades has polled the attitudes of thousands of people, found that […]
Analysis: Bank of Japan’s yield curve control in danger as policy backfires
BOJ’s hope to buy time with wider yield band backfiresBoard to debate market distortions at Tuesday-Wednesday meetingMany in BOJ prefer to stand pat, some open to tweak – sourcesDec inflation seen hitting 4.0%, more pressure for BOJTOKYO, Jan 16 (Reuters) – The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is under pressure to change its interest rate policy […]
China consumer inflation accelerates in Dec; PPI falls with soft demand
BEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) – China’s annual consumer inflation rate accelerated in December, driven by rising food prices even as domestic demand wavered amid restrained economic activity.Economists expect inflation to continue to pick up in the first quarter of 2023.The consumer price index (CPI) in December was 1.8% higher than a year earlier, rising faster […]
Crypto contagion deepens: Coinbase to slash nearly 1,000 jobs
Jan 10 (Reuters) – Coinbase Global Inc (COIN.O) said on Tuesday it will reduce its workforce by about 950 employees as part of a restructuring plan, in a third round of layoffs for the cryptocurrency exchange since last year.The company said it expects to incur about $149 million to $163 million in restructuring expenses. Its […]