[ The yen languished near its weakest in decades on Thursday though the threat of intervention from Japanese authorities kept investors leery of pushing the currency to a new low, while Asian stocks rose ahead of a key U.S. inflation reading. Markets were largely rangebound ahead of Friday’s much-anticipated U.S. core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) … Read more
[ NARA: The Bank of Japan will likely end its risky asset purchases but avoid raising interest rates rapidly when scaling back monetary support, Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida said in the strongest hint to date that an end to its massive stimulus was nearing. Service-sector prices are rising as more companies hike wages and pass … Read more
[ TOKYO: Core inflation in Japan’s capital slowed below the central bank’s 2% target to the lowest rate in nearly two years, data showed on Friday, underscoring policymakers’ view that cost pressures will continue to ease in coming months. Separate data showed corporate service inflation holding steady at a nearly nine-year high in December, suggesting … Read more
[ TOKYO: Japan’s core inflation stayed above the central bank’s 2% target in December but slowed for a second straight month, data showed on Friday, reinforcing expectations it will be in no hurry to phase out its massive monetary stimulus. The data, which matched median market forecasts, highlights receding inflationary pressure from raw material imports … Read more
[ KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed firmer against the US dollar on Wednesday following the United States Federal Reserve (Fed) expectation of easing its monetary policy next year. At 6 pm, the ringgit rose to 4.6555/6605 against the greenback from Tuesday’s close of 4.6760/6805. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said it was a … Read more
[ KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit rebounded to close higher against the US dollar on Tuesday as the greenback weakened due to the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) dovish stance. At 6 pm, the ringgit rose to 4.6760/6805 against the greenback from Monday’s close of 4.6920/6965. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid … Read more
[ TOKYO: Japan’s economy fell faster than first estimated in the third quarter, revised data showed on Friday, as the household sector faced growing headwinds, complicating the central bank’s efforts to phase out its accommodative monetary policy. Consumer and business spending both shrank, driving down third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP). Separate data showed real wages … Read more
