Japan
TOE Alert: Election Likely to Buttress Abe - for a while
written by Richard Katz on November 26, 2014
Abe likely to gain clout from elections--temporarily.
Japan Back in Recession: Surprise GDP Drop
written by Richard Katz on November 17, 2014
The big picture is that GDP in 2014, so far, remains worse than 1997. Not a single major forecaster predicted that GDP would drop in July-Sept. The consensus forecast was in the 2.2-2.5% range, depending on the survey.
Abe Poll Ratings Resume Plunge, Part 3
written by Richard Katz on October 29, 2014
Abe’s falling approval ratings make him even more cautious on restarting the nuclear power plants in the face of the two-thirds of the public that opposes restarts,
Abe Poll Ratings Resume Plunge, Part 2
written by Richard Katz on October 28, 2014
As we detailed in yesterday’s Alert, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s approval ratings have resume the steady slide that was temporarily interrupted by the Cabinet reshuffle in September. We suspect that his support remains “a mile wide and an inch deep.” If there were a solid alternative, either inside the LDP or from the opposition parties, we suspect his approval ratings would be even lower.
Possible Abe-Xi Meeting at Beijing APEC Summit
written by Richard Katz on October 17, 2014
The New York Times reported today that, according to Japanese officials, the two countries are working on an agreement for at least a photo op, and perhaps a 15-minute non-substantive meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping during APEC.
Japan Financial Markets Moved by U.S. Events
written by Richard Katz on October 16, 2014
The ups and downs of Japanese stocks have closely mirrored those in the US since August.
Bad Month for Abenomics
written by Richard Katz on October 07, 2014
September was not a good month for Abenomics. That meant it was not a good month for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe either. The bump in the polls that Abe received following his Cabinet reshuffle a month ago has already begun to fade. Consider these shocks to the credibility of Abenomics.
TOE Alert: Unexpected Fall in Industrial Production Leads Economists to Revise Downward Their GDP Forecasts
written by Richard Katz on October 02, 2014
Japan's Industrial production fell 1.5% in August from July; economists had expected a 0.3% rise
TOE Alert: Post-Tax Spending, Wages Show Further Retrenchment in August
written by Richard Katz on October 01, 2014
Once again in August, the post-tax hike retrenchment in consumer spending continues to be far worse than expected, as do wages and overall consumer income.
Tokyo Launches 'Blame Game" on TPP
written by Richard Katz on September 29, 2014
In the aftermath of the breakdown of the US-Japan talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Japanese government has spread a misleading account of the talks to try to place the blame on Washington.
