Bank of Japan maintains short-term interest rate target at -0.1% and 10-year JGB yield target around 0.0%. Leaves unchanged pledge to buy JGBs more or less at current pace so its holdings increase at annual pace of around 80 Trl ¥.
Current economic outlook
Japan real GDP expected +1.6% in fiscal year 2017/18 vs +1.5% projected in January
- real GDP expected +1.3% in fiscal year 2018/19 vs +1.1% projected in January
- real GDP expected +0.7% in fiscal year 2019/20
Japan core CPI expected +1.4% in fiscal year 2017/18 vs +1.5% projected in January
- Core CPI expected +1.7% in fiscal year 2018/19 vs +1.7% projected in January
- Core CPI expected +1.9% in fiscal year 2019/20
Bank of Japan quarterly report: Japan likely to see inflation reach 2% around fiscal 2018
At the press conference latter on, BOJ’s Kuroda says
BOJ will continue with QQE until prices meet inflation target, CPI to hit 2% in fiscal year 2018 and will move stably around that level thereafter. Output gap has turned positive, which helps maintain price momentum. They conclude that exit strategy now will cause market confusion. Kuroda don’t see any problems in purchasing JGBs of around 80trln ¥ per year.
USD/JPY almost unchanged same as policy and it didn’t move much during the both events, currently at 111.27
For full statement on Monetary Policy from April 27. 2017 in PDF, go here
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