BoJ Gov Ueda again: If food inflation is temporary, shouldn’t respond with monetary policy

Forex Short News

Bank of Japan Governor Ueda is serving up some reasons to sell JPY today!

  • We will make a judgment call by looking at various indicators, in determining whether underlying inflation has hit our target
  • Just looking at single indicator won’t be sufficient in grasping underlying inflation, which indicator to focus on could change gradually during course of time
  • If food inflation is temporary, we shouldn’t respond with monetary policy
  • If sustained rises in food prices lead to broader inflation, push up service prices, that could lead to wide-ranging inflation that could require raising interest rate
  • Japan is shaking off deflationary mindset, but still one step short of seeing wage-inflation cycle kick off in sustainable fashion
  • Japan’s short-term, real interest rate currently around -2%
  • We are always vigilant to possibility underlying inflation may accelerate at pace faster than we project
  • We are making projections, deciding policy to ensure underlying inflation does not accelerate much faster than we project
  • There is some room for allowance in our 2% inflation target
  • The BoJ has no plan to immediately offload ETF holdings
  • Would like to take time examining whether to unload our ETF holdings or not
  • Won’t completely rule out option of permanently holding onto our ETF holdings
  • I am aware there are various ideas, proposals on what to do with BoJ’s ETF holdings but won’t comment on each of them
  • Speaking about interim plan on what to do with BoJ’s ETF holdings, before it is finalised, could have unintended impact on markets

Earlier:

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.