News about BOJ

Japanese government bond yields eased on Monday morning as investors sought safety after losses in U.S. tech shares, with the 10-year yield at 2.9%, according to Reuters. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.1% and the S&P 500 lost 1.1% in Friday's U.S. session; AP linked the selloff to concern that companies borrowing to expand AI may struggle to sustain spending as global bond yields rise. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament the government would manage the total amount of bond issuance. The Bank of Japan raised its uncollateralized overnight call rate target to around 1.25% from around 1% on Sept. 18, and Governor Kazuo Ueda said underlying inflation was “quite close” to the 2% target. The BOJ's next policy meeting is scheduled for Oct. 29–30.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said underlying inflation is “quite close” to the 2% target, as strong global AI demand and a tight job market add price pressure, signalling room for further rate hikes. He stressed that raising rates at an appropriate pace would help avoid spikes in bond yields, while failing to adjust could push long-term rates higher. The BOJ's two-day meeting concludes on October 30, but after its September hike, many policymakers are cautious about another move this month. According to sources cited by Reuters, many market players expect rates to hold at 1.25%, with hints of a possible rise to 1.5% as early as December. JGB yields have risen as concerns grow that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's big spending plans could worsen Japan's already strained finances.