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As expected, the Bank of Japan maintained its short-term interest rate target at -0.1%

Bank of Japan offers bleaker view on exports

The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady today but offered a bleaker view on exports and output, reinforcing expectations the bank will maintain its massive stimulus even as major counterparts eye a withdrawal of crisis-mode support.

Business • 22 Sep 21

Japan, the world's third-largest economy, is expected to expand by an annualised 0.5% in the second quarter of 2021

Japan to avoid recession, but Q2 growth forecasts cut

Japan's economy likely grew and avoided slipping into recession this quarter but an extension of emergency measures to stem a rise in coronavirus infections has dented the growth outlook, a Reuters poll showed.

Business • 15 Jun 21

Japan, the world's third-largest economy is showing signs of gradually overcoming last year's pandemic hit

Japan upgrades Q1 GDP on smaller hit to domestic demand

Japan's economy shrank less than initially reported in the first quarter on smaller cuts to plant and equipment spending, but the coronavirus pandemic still dealt a huge blow to overall demand.

Business • 08 Jun 21

The Japanese economy shrank an annualised 5.1% in the first quarter, more than the forecast 4.6% contraction

Japan's economy slumps back into decline in Q1

Japan's economy shrank more than expected in the first quarter as a slow vaccine rollout and new Covid-19 infections hit spending on items such as dining out and clothes, raising concerns the country will lag others emerging from the pandemic.

Business • 18 May 21

The Bank of Japan has warned of 'high uncertainty' on how much the Covid pandemic could drag on growth

BoJ signals prolonged easing on Covid pressure

Japan's central bank has today maintained its massive stimulus and projected inflation missing its 2% target for years to come, as fresh curbs to combat a spike in Covid-19 cases overshadow the boost to growth from solid global demand.

Business • 27 Apr 21

Japan's economy expanded at a slower than initially reported pace in the fourth quarter of 2020

Japan downgrades Q4 GDP as companies cut spending

Japan's economy expanded at a slower than initially reported pace in the fourth quarter, with firms tightening spending on plant and equipment as the coronavirus pandemic clouded their business plans.

Business • 09 Mar 21

Japan, the world's third-largest economy grew by an annualised 12.7% in the three months from October to December

Japan extends economic recovery on strong exports

Japan's economy expanded more than expected in the fourth quarter, extending the recovery from its worst postwar recession thanks to a rebound in overseas demand that boosted exports and capital spending.

Business • 15 Feb 21

The Bank of Japan has warned of escalating risks to the outlook as new Covid measures threaten to derail a fragile recovery

Bank of Japan lifts next year's growth forecast

The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady today and upgraded its economic forecast for next fiscal year, but it warned of escalating risks to the outlook as new coronavirus emergency measures threatened to derail a fragile recovery.

Business • 21 Jan 21

Japan's central bank has agreed to buy dollars from the Ministry of Finance any time up to the end of March next year

Bank of Japan loads up $6 billion to combat turmuil

The Bank of Japan will tap $6 billion in cash from a government account in a rare arrangement to ensure it has enough ammunition to combat any market disruptions caused by a recent resurgence in coronavirus infections.

Business • 16 Dec 20

Confidence among major Japanese manufacturers has recovered further after plunging on Covid-19 woes

Japan business confidence improves again

Confidence among major Japanese manufacturers has recovered further after plunging on pandemic woes to its worst level since the global financial crisis, a key survey showed today.

Business • 14 Dec 20

data released today revised up Japan's GDP figure for the three months from July to September to 5.3% from a preliminary estimate of 5%

Japan unveils new $700 billion stimulus package

Japan's prime minister has today unveiled more than $700 billion in fresh stimulus to fund projects from anti-coronavirus measures to green tech, the country's third such package this financial year.

Business • 08 Dec 20

Improved exports and consumption helped Japan emerge from the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic

Japan economy vaults back from Covid-induced recession

Japan's economy grew at the fastest pace on record in the third quarter, rebounding sharply from its biggest postwar slump, as improved exports and consumption helped the country emerge from the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Business • 16 Nov 20

Japan suffered its biggest economic slump on record in the second quarter as Covid-19 hit demand

Bank of Japan sees economic gloom lifting slightly

The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady today and slightly upgraded its view on the economy, suggesting that no immediate expansion of stimulus was needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Business • 17 Sep 20

Japan, the world's third-largest economy, shrank an annualised 28.1% in the three months from April to June

Japan reports worst postwar economic downturn

Japan's economy sank deeper into its worst postwar contraction in the second quarter as the coronavirus jolted businesses more than initially thought, underscoring the daunting task the new prime minister faces in averting a steeper recession.

Business • 08 Sep 20

The Bank of Japan expects the economy to shrink 4.7% in the current year ending in March

Bank of Japan sticks to cautious recovery view

The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady today and maintained its view that the economy would gradually emerge from the coronavirus pandemic's devastating blow, signalling a pause after delivering stimulus twice so far this year.

Business • 15 Jul 20

The Bank of Japan expanded its zero-interest loan programme to firms to 90 trillion yen ($837 billion) from 55 trillion yen.

Bank of Japan boosts aid for coronavirus-hit firms

Japan's central bank has today ramped up aid for businesses struggling with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, as it attempts to ease the recession in the world's third-largest economy.

Business • 16 Jun 20

Japan's GDP contracted by 0.6% in the three months from January to March compared to the previous quarter

Japan economy better than feared but still in recession

Japanese growth figures were better than initially feared in the first quarter, according to official data published today, but the world's third-top economy was still mired deep in recession.

Business • 08 Jun 20

Japan's car makers are struggling to cope with the health crisis, which has pummelled car sales due to lockdowns in many countries

Japan exports fall as pandemic wipes out global demand

Japan's exports saw their biggest fall the most since the 2009 global financial crisis in April as the coronavirus pandemic slammed world demand for cars, industrial materials and other goods.

Business • 21 May 20

Japan expanded a state of emergency this month that asks citizens to stay home and businesses to close

Bank of Japan expands stimulus again as virus pain deep

The Bank of Japan has today expanded monetary stimulus and pledged to buy unlimited amount of bonds to keep borrowing costs low as the government tries to spend its way out of the deepening economic pain from the coronavirus pandemic.

Business • 27 Apr 20

The world's third-largest economy shrank an annualised 7.1% in the three months to December, new data shows

Japan's economy shrinks faster than first estimated

Japan's economy shrank more than initially estimated in the fourth quarter, exacerbating economic fears at a time when the impact of the coronavirus outbreak is increasing recession risks.

Business • 09 Mar 20

Japan's gross domestic product in the three months to December shrank 1.6% from the previous quarter

Japan suffers worst economic slump in five years

Japan has suffered its worst quarterly GDP contraction in more than five years, with a tax hike and a deadly typhoon taking a toll on the world's third-largest economy.

Business • 17 Feb 20

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said overseas risks have subsided somewhat

Bank of Japan raises growth forecast

The Bank of Japan nudged up its economic growth forecasts today and was cautiously optimistic about the global outlook.

Business • 21 Jan 20

Japan's economy grew an annualised 1.3% rate in the three months from April to June, revised Cabinet Office data shows

Japan downgrades Q2 GDP as trade war hits investment

Japan's economy grew at a slower pace than initially estimated in the second quarter as the US-China trade war prompted a downward revision of business spending.

Business • 09 Sep 19

Japan, the world's third-biggest economy grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2019

Japan first quarter growth revised up to 0.6%

Japan's economy grew slightly faster than initially thought in the first quarter of this year, due partly to better-than-expected corporate investment, official figures show today.

Business • 10 Jun 19

Japan's economy grew by 0.5% in the first three months of the year

Japan's economy shows better-than-expected Q1 growth

The Japanese economy expanded a better-than-expected 0.5% in the first quarter of this year, official data showed today, although analysts cautioned that the world's third-largest economy was still facing headwinds.

Business • 20 May 19

Japanese Economy