RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Japan’s wholesale prices climbed 2.7% year-on-year in September, maintaining the same pace as August, according to data released Friday. The steady increase underscores persistent cost pressures that could push the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to consider further tightening its monetary policy.
The Corporate Goods Price Index (CGPI), which tracks prices companies charge each other for goods and services, exceeded market expectations of a 2.5% rise. This indicates that input costs remain elevated despite easing global commodity prices.
In contrast, the yen-based import price index fell 0.8% from a year earlier, moderating from a 3.9% drop in August. The slower decline reflects the weaker yen, which continues to inflate the cost of imported goods and raw materials.
Food and beverage prices increased 4.7% in September compared to the previous year, slightly down from August’s 4.9% gain. Agricultural goods prices, including rice, surged 30.5%, cooling from an extraordinary 41% spike the month before.
The BOJ closely monitors wholesale price trends as they often serve as a leading indicator for consumer inflation, a key metric guiding Japan’s monetary policy decisions.
The central bank ended its decade-long ultra-loose monetary stance last year and raised interest rates to 0.5% in January, marking its first significant policy shift in years. The move came amid confidence that Japan was nearing its 2% inflation target sustainably.
Although consumer inflation has remained above 2% for over three years, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda continues to adopt a cautious stance. He has emphasized that further rate hikes will depend on whether inflation is supported by robust domestic demand rather than temporary cost-push factors like imported raw materials.
