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REPEAT: MNI ANALYSIS: BOJ No CPI Timeframe for Flexible Policy
By Hiroshi Inoue
TOKYO (MNI) - The Bank of Japan's decision Friday to shop publishing its
estimate for the timing of achieving the bank's 2% inflation target is aimed at
discouraging market participants from speculating more easing when the timing is
delayed and also allowing the BOJ board to tweak easing more flexibly.
The BOJ has pushed back the timeframe of hitting the 2% price target six
times since it launched aggressive easing five years ago. Until recently, its
estimate was that Japan could anchor 2% inflation "around fiscal 2019."
The loose timeframe has never been the BOJ's policy target and is based on
the board's inflation outlook but some investors took it as a clear deadline
linked to future policy action.
BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has said a delay in the estimated timing of
achieving the target would not be directly linked to additional easing.
Instead, the BOJ board would debate the need for more easing by analyzing
whether the momentum toward achieving the price target is maintained or lost.
--MORE FLEXIBLE RESPONSE
The decision to remove the reference to the estimated timing of hitting the
2% price target from the policy statement and the quarterly Outlook Report will
also make it easier for the board to adjust the degree of easing in response to
changing risks to the financial system.
It is unlikely at this point but the BOJ may have to reduce the effects of
easing if financial activities become excessive even when 2% inflation has not
been anchored yet.
In such a case, decoupling the 2% inflation timeframe from market
expectations for more easing would help the BOJ board cope with financial risks
more flexibly, some BOJ officials believe.
BOJ policymakers have been saying they are mindful of the adverse effects
of prolonged large-scale monetary easing with the negative interest rate policy
-- squeezing profit margins for lenders and returns on investments for pension
funds.
The BOJ's twice-annual Financial System Report released on April 19 warned
that "the current sufficiency of banks' level of capital doesn't necessarily
guarantee the future stability of the financial system."
The FSR also said financial institutions have actively extended loans at
low interest rates, particularly to "middle-risk firms" against the backdrop of
the effects of intensified lending competition under chronic stress and monetary
easing.
"In the event of negative shocks, such as an economic downturn or a rise in
interest rates, firms -- especially middle-risk firms with low profitability and
ability to repay their debt -- could be downgraded and credit costs could rise
sharply," it said.
--OFTEN-DELAYED TIMEFRAME
By removing the reference to the timeframe for 2% inflation, the BOJ does
not have to keep pushing it back as price rises remain subdued.
The BOJ board's latest inflation forecasts for fiscal 2019 and 2018 in the
Outlook Report, both 1.8%, indicate that the 2% price target is unlikely to be
achieved "around fiscal 2019."
The Outlook Report also showed that only one out of the nine board members
expects the year-on-year rise in the core CPI to climb to 2% in fiscal 2019 from
just below 1% now and the remaining eight members see downside risks to prices
are higher than upside risks.
--MNI Tokyo Bureau; tel: +81 90-4670-5309; email: max.sato@marketnews.com
To read the full story
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Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.