2015 didn't end well for Japan and BOJ too. According to latest estimate released Japan's economy shrank in final quarter of 2015 and more than it was expected. AQs per latest data, Japan's GDP shrank by 0.4% in fourth quarter on quarterly basis, compared to 0.3% gain in September quarter. On yearly basis, economy contracted by -1.4%, which was highest reading since September, 2014, when economy contracted by 2.8% post 2% sales tax hike by government.
Despite, continued monetary stimulus from bank of Japan (BOJ), economy has hardly staged any recovery and remains as fragile as ever. Over than past 9 quarters, economy has faced 5 quarters of contraction, including one recession. With economy contracting, wages remaining stagnant and consumers reducing their purchase as price rises, Bank of Japan (BOJ) finding itself between rock and a hard place.
It is not just the GDP, other economic releases are equally discouraging.
Industrial production dropped -1.7% in January. Tertiary industry index declined by -0.6% and capacity utilization is also dropped by 1%.
Yen on the other hand is down today as Nikkei rose more than 5% in line with global peers. Yen is currently trading at 113.9 per Dollar and Nikkei around 16040.


Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Gains After Fed Rate Hike
US Stocks Rise Ahead of Fed Rate Decision
German 2-Year Yield Hits 2023 High as Rate Hike Bets Rise
European Stocks Rally After Fed Hike, Iran Peace Hopes
Gold Prices Slip as Fed Rate Hike Looms, Treasury Yields Rise
Asian Stocks Rise After Fed Rate Hike
US Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Fed Rate Hike
Yemen Fighting Threatens Red Sea Oil Routes
Gold Rebounds Above $4,300 Despite Hawkish Fed Rate Hike
Asian Stocks Rise as Investors Brace for Fed Rate Decision




