South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
New York Fed President John Williams Signals Rate Hold as Economy Seen Strong in 2026 
Trump to Announce New Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Powell Replacement Looms 
Jerome Powell Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump Effort to Fire Fed Governor, Calling It Historic 
U.S. Urges Japan on Monetary Policy as Yen Volatility Raises Market Concerns 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Bank of Japan Signals Cautious Path Toward Further Rate Hikes Amid Yen Weakness 
U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Fed Chair Jerome Powell Over Headquarters Renovation 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is facing renewed debate among policymakers over the direction of monetary policy, as minutes from the central bank’s July meeting revealed that several board members are calling for a return to interest rate hikes in the future. Despite these views, the BOJ board unanimously agreed to keep borrowing costs unchanged during the July meeting, underscoring the cautious approach being taken amid uncertain global and domestic conditions.
According to the minutes released Thursday, one board member emphasized that the BOJ’s current policy rate remains below the so-called neutral level. This neutral rate is the point at which monetary policy neither stimulates nor slows the economy. The member argued that with consumer prices still relatively elevated and Japan’s output gap hovering around zero, the time is approaching for the central bank to normalize policy. “It’s appropriate for the BOJ to return the policy rate to its neutral level where possible,” the member stated.
The discussions highlight the BOJ’s delicate balancing act as it navigates between supporting economic recovery and preventing overheating. Japan has faced decades of low inflation and sluggish growth, leading the BOJ to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy for years. However, with price pressures now more persistent than in the past, some officials believe gradual rate adjustments will be necessary to ensure stability in the medium term.
Still, the unanimous decision to hold rates steady reflects the BOJ’s cautious stance. Global economic uncertainties, including slowing growth in major economies and financial market volatility, continue to weigh heavily on the outlook. For now, the central bank appears committed to maintaining flexibility while monitoring inflation trends and domestic demand.
Market watchers will closely follow future BOJ meetings, as any shift toward rate hikes could have significant implications for the yen, bond yields, and broader global financial markets.
