REPEAT: MNI: BOJ Leaves Unchanged JGB Buying Frequency in Jan

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 06:34 GMT Dec 29/01:34 EST Dec 29

--Also Leaves Unchanged Buying Plans for Each JGB Maturity Zone

     TOKYO (MNI) - The Bank of Japan said late on Thursday it has decided to

leave the frequency of its Japanese government bond purchases in January

unchanged from December, indicating there is no need to guide any particular

bond yields higher or lower.

     The decision indicated that the BOJ is comfortable with the current yield

curve.

     The BOJ also left unchanged its purchase plans for each JGB maturity zone.

     Under its yield curve control policy framework, the BOJ is seeking to

stabilize the 10-year government bond yield, the benchmark for long-term

borrowing costs, "around zero percent" and keep the overnight interest rate at

-0.1%.

     The BOJ also said that it may announce additional JGB buying operations,

depending on market conditions.

     The BOJ refrains from conducting JGB buying operations on days when the

Ministry of Finance auctions JGBs and the BOJ board holds policy meetings.

     The planned JGB purchase operations in January:

     The zones (amounts to be purchased in ranges)

     1 to 3 years (Y200-Y300 bln in Jan vs. Y200-Y300 bln in Dec)

     3 to 5 years (Y250-Y350 bln in Jan vs. Y250-Y350 bln in Dec)

     5 to 10 years (Y300-Y500 bln in Jan vs. Y300-Y500 bln in Dec)

     10 to 25 years (Y150-Y250 bln in Jan vs. Y150-250 bln in Dec)

     More than 25 years (Y50-Y150 bln in Jan vs. Y50-Y150 bln in Dec)

     The frequencies of operations in each zone in January (vs. plans and

actuals in December)

     1 to 3 years: 6 times (6 times)

     3 to 5 years: 6 times (6 times)

     5 to 10 years: 6 times (6 times)

     10 to 25 years: 5 times (5 times)

     More than 25 years: 5 times (5 times)

     The dates of operations

     Jan. 4: 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years.

     Jan. 9: 10 to 25 years, more than 25 years.

     Jan. 11: 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years.

     Jan. 15: 5 to 10 years, 10 to 25 years, more than 25 years.

     Jan. 17: 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years.

     Jan. 19: 5 to 10 years, 10 to 25 years, more than 25 years.

     Jan. 24: 1 to 3 year, 3 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years.

     Jan. 26: 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, 10 to 25 years, more than 25 years.

     Jan. 29: 5 to 10 years.

     Jan. 31: 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, 10 to 25 years, more than 25 years.

--MNI Tokyo Bureau; tel: +81 90-4670-5309; email: max.sato@marketnews.com