The Latest Breaking News from the Bank of Japan

The Bank of Japan is expected to hold interest rates steady on Friday but reports said it could gradually reduce its vast hoard of government bonds as it shifts away from a long-running ultra-loose monetary policy.

Asian shares are mostly higher as investors turn their attention to what the Bank of Japan might decide on monetary policy later this week

June S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESM24) are trending down -0.31% this morning as market participants geared up for the start of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting while also awaiting Wednesday’s release of a key U.S. inflation report.

Japanese tourism and exports see gains while fund outflows and higher import costs cause pain

Asian markets rose Friday after falling for much of the week, with below-forecast US data injecting some fresh life into hopes the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year.

The pace of Japanese inflation slowed in April to 2.2 percent as gas bills fell, government data showed Friday, with the figure remaining above the Bank of Japan's two percent target.

More than half of Japan's largest companies have announced plans to raise their dividends in the current fiscal year. The announcement of share buybacks is also at an all-time high, as firms announced $7.7 billion worth of share buybacks in April - a record for the first month of a…

June S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESM24) are trending down -0.05% this morning as warnings from a series of Federal Reserve officials prompted investors to reassess their expectations regarding interest rate cuts this year.

Japan's economic downturn raises concerns over Bank of Japan's interest rate plans and growth prospects.