Masaaki Kanno Market Quotations

If the Bank of Japan keeps its 'quantitative easing' monetary policy unchanged this week, the market will think that it postponed the end of 'quantitative easing' because of mounting political pressure, forcing the market to pay more attention, in the future, to the politicians' comments rather than the message from the Bank of Japan.

Japan will maintain growth driven by demand at home, particularly by solid consumer spending, as the labor market is becoming tight, propping up wages and household incomes. Upward pressure on prices will intensify next fiscal year, when the employment situation will become much tighter.

This (the data) may heighten expectations in the market of a BOJ policy change next week.

This may heighten expectations in the market of a BOJ policy change next week. But we think more important is what sort of policy framework the BOJ can present for the post-quantitative easing era, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus yet on this among the board members.

The Bank of Japan will probably end its zero-rate policy in July or August. If the labor market becomes tighter and gains in wages and consumer prices pick up momentum, the bank may have to make another rate increase by the end of this year.