Japan's Ministry of Finance plans to raise its assumed long-term interest rate to 1.5% for the fiscal year 2024/25, up from the current record-low of 1.1%, indicating a potential strain on the country's budget as it is set to exceed 114 trillion yen ($782.64 billion).
The majority of economists polled by Reuters predict that the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates again, and they expect the central bank to wait until at least the end of March before cutting them, as the probability of a recession within a year falls to its lowest level since September 2022.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is rising to its highest level since 2007, and this is due in part to reduced demand from foreign countries, such as Japan and China, who are diversifying their investments away from U.S. Treasurys.
Japan is unlikely to intervene in the market unless the yen weakens past 150 to the dollar and becomes a major political issue, according to a former central bank official, who also noted that the benefits of a weak yen are becoming clearer due to the re-opening of Japan's borders.
Financial expert Izuru Kato warns that a delay in the Bank of Japan's monetary policy normalization could result in steep interest rate increases and highlights the bank's concerns over inflation stabilization, government debts, and housing loans.
Traders are expecting a volatile start to the week as policymakers from the US and Europe indicate that interest rates will likely remain higher for a longer period of time, leading to increased yields on bonds and a weakening of the yen.
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.
The Federal Reserve meeting in September may hold the key to the end of the tightening cycle, as markets anticipate a rate hike in November, aligning with the Fed's thinking on its peak rate. However, disagreement among Fed policymakers regarding the strength of the economy and inflation raises questions about the clarity and certainty of the Fed's guidance. Market skeptics remain uncertain about the possibility of a "soft landing," with sustained economic expansion following a period of tightening.
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.
Emerging-market central banks are resisting expectations of interest rate cuts, which is lowering the outlook for developing-nation bonds, as central banks in Asia and Latin America turn hawkish in response to the "higher-for-longer" stance taken by the Federal Reserve, currency pressures, and the threat of inflation.
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.
Central banks across major developed and emerging economies took a breather in August with lower interest rate hikes amid diverging growth outlooks and inflation risks, while some countries like Brazil and China cut rates, and others including Turkey and Russia raised rates to combat currency weakness and high inflation.
The author argues against the common belief that rising interest rates and a rising dollar will negatively impact the stock market, citing historical evidence that contradicts this perspective and emphasizes the importance of analyzing market reality rather than personal beliefs. The author presents a bullish outlook for the market, with a potential rally towards the 4800SPX region, but also acknowledges the possibility of a corrective pullback.
Tokyo stocks rise as a cheaper yen supports the market, despite falls on Wall Street and concerns about another US Federal Reserve interest rate hike.
The yen strengthened and government bonds slumped as traders reacted to potentially hawkish comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on the negative interest rate policy, causing Japanese bank shares to jump and the benchmark bond yield to rise.
The Wall Street Journal reports a notable shift in the stance of Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rates, with some officials now seeing risks as more balanced due to easing inflation and a less overheated labor market, which could impact the timing of future rate hikes. In other news, consumer credit growth slows in July, China and Japan reduce holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to record lows, and Russia's annual inflation rate reached 5.2% in August 2023.
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.
Speculation is growing that the Bank of Japan may be moving away from ultra-loose policy and negative interest rates, with its policy meeting being the highlight of the week in Asian markets.
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.
The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a pause on interest rate hikes due to positive economic indicators and the likelihood of a "soft landing" for the economy, but future decisions will be influenced by factors such as the resumption of student loan payments and a potential government shutdown.
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 Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady and signal that it is done raising rates for this economic cycle, as the bond market indicates that inflation trends are moving in the right direction.
The Bank of England has ended its streak of interest rate hikes after new data reveals lower-than-expected inflation, signaling a potential pause in the rate hiking cycle. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee also voted to cut its stock of U.K. government bond purchases, and investors are now speculating whether this decision marks the peak of the interest rate cycle.
U.S. stocks are expected to open lower and the dollar is soaring after the Federal Reserve indicated that interest rates will remain higher for a longer period, while the Bank of England faces a tough rate decision and the Swiss National Bank has paused its rate-hiking cycle.
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.
Central banks around the world may have reached the peak of interest rate hikes in their effort to control inflation, as data suggests that major economies have turned a corner on price rises and core inflation is declining in the US, UK, and EU. However, central banks remain cautious and warn that rates may need to remain high for a longer duration, and that oil price rallies could lead to another spike in inflation. Overall, economists believe that the global monetary policy tightening cycle is nearing its end, with many central banks expected to cut interest rates in the coming year.
The Japanese yen remains weak against the U.S. dollar due to high U.S. Treasury yields and anticipation of the Bank of Japan maintaining its current monetary policies, while the dollar is boosted by the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda warns of uncertainty in companies' ability to raise prices and wages, and emphasizes the need to maintain loose monetary policy, while also expressing concerns about the economic outlook abroad, particularly in relation to U.S. interest rate hikes and China's sluggish growth.
The Bank of Japan policymakers are divided on how soon the central bank could end negative interest rates, with some members believing it may take a significant amount of time before revising the policy, while others believe the 2% inflation target has come within reach and could be assessed in early 2024. The central bank's commitment to ultra-loose monetary settings remains due to uncertainty regarding the achievement of its inflation target.
Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about sustained high interest rates, with the bond and foreign-exchange markets already showing signs of adjusting, and if stock markets do not follow suit, the coming months could be particularly challenging.
Investors are concerned about possible intervention as the yen approaches 150 per dollar, but the Bank of Japan may find it difficult to justify and achieve currency support due to the hesitation in exiting an ultra-easy monetary policy and the commitment to market-determined exchange rates.
The strain from interest rate hikes is starting to impact the real estate market, particularly in Germany and London, as well as the Chinese property sector; corporate debt defaults are increasing globally; banking stress remains a concern, especially regarding smaller banks and their exposure to commercial real estate; and the Bank of Japan's tighter monetary policy could lead to a sharp unwind of investments, potentially impacting global markets.
The Bank of Japan is considering the eventual end of its ultra-loose monetary policy, with some policymakers discussing the conditions and timing of a future exit, according to a summary of opinions from their September meeting, leading to a rise in government bond yields.
The Bank of Japan is increasing its bond purchases in an effort to defend its yield curve control policy as government bond yields rise.
The Bank of Japan defending its yield curve control is expected to be a catalyst to halt the recent selloff in Treasuries and stabilize global bond markets.
The Federal Reserve's shift towards higher interest rates is causing significant turmoil in financial markets, with major averages falling and Treasury yields reaching their highest levels in 16 years, resulting in increased costs of capital for companies and potential challenges for banks and consumers.
The recent surge in global bond yields, driven by rising term premiums and expectations of higher interest rates, signals the potential end of the era of low interest rates and poses risks for heavily indebted countries like Italy, as well as Japan and other economies tied to rock-bottom interest rates.
Investors are likely to continue facing difficulties in the stock market as three headwinds, including high valuations and restrictive interest rates, persist, according to JPMorgan. The bank's cautious outlook is based on the surge in bond yields and the overhang of geopolitical risks, which resemble the conditions before the 2008 financial crisis. Additionally, the recent reading of sentiment indicators suggests that investors have entered a state of panic due to high interest rates.
Concerns surround the upcoming release of U.S. payrolls data and how hawkish the Federal Reserve needs to be, as global markets experience a period of calm following a tumultuous week that saw Treasury yields rise to 16-year highs, crude oil prices drop, equities decline, and the yen strengthen. Japanese government bond yields are also causing concern, as investor sentiment towards the Bank of Japan's stimulus remains low.
Global monetary policy is expected to transition from a period of low interest rates to rate cuts by the beginning of 2024, with only a few central banks anticipated to maintain steady rates, according to Bloomberg Economics. The forecast signals a turning point in the tightening cycle and suggests that the era of ultra-low rates will not return anytime soon. The report also highlights a slower pace of descent compared to the initial rate hikes that led to the higher borrowing costs.
Asian markets are expected to start positively due to a slump in U.S. bond yields and comments from Federal Reserve officials signaling the end of interest rate hikes, despite concerns in China's property sector and other economic indicators.
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