The labour squeeze: How slow reform threatens Abenomics June 9, 2014 More QE cannot be a substitute for labour market reform JAPANESE shares hit a three-month high yesterday, boosted by an upward revision to first quarter GDP and Friday’s strong US jobs report. The Japanese government announced that the economy grew at an annualised 6.7 per cent in the first quarter, up sharply on the initial [...]
This week’s must-see charts: Indian elections, Abenomics and more May 16, 2014 India’s election, Japan’s dismal prospects, Scottish independence polls, and the a possible weakening of the euro. We bring you some of our favourite analysts' picks of the most important graphs this week. Alex Dryden, analyst at JP Morgan Asset Management This week’s chart looks at the market reaction to the appointment of reformist Narendra Modi [...]
Abenomics fails to deliver for Japan’s mega banks February 5, 2014 Japanese banks are set for a rough ride this year as they struggle to maintain strong profits, according to Fitch Ratings. The ratings agency said recent gains seen in the wake of Abenomics can be attributed more to a surge in optimism rather than fundamental improvements. Core lending remains sluggish as a stronger yen combined [...]
Could falling Japanese stocks see Abenomics end in tears? February 4, 2014 The Nikkei took the biggest hit of any advanced economy stock index yesterday, dropping over four per cent. The Japanese stock index is down by about 14 per cent from its December peak. Is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s radical easing policy slipping up? Despite fears of a new bear market, this isn’t even the biggest [...]
Japanese business conditions up – but is this as good as it gets for Abenomics? December 16, 2013 The Bank of Japan's Tankan survey has shown a further improvement in business conditions in the fourth quarter. However, the pace of improvement has flagging pointing to a slowdown in GDP growth, according to Capital Economics. The headline index of business conditions for large manufacturers rose from +12 in the third quarter to +16 in [...]