The IMF on Asia's Recovery and its Sustainability

By Claus Vistesen: CopenhagenIn case you had not noticed, the IMF is blogging and it is not "merely" the garden variety IMF staffers they are rolling out to fill the pages; nope here we are treated to the likes of Blanchard, Atkinson, Lipsky, Cottarelli and a host of other of the Fund's A-listers. Consequently, it would seem that in an already (over)crowded world of econblogging, the

A scenario for Japan’s public finances

A few days back there were rumblings of dissatisfaction from the market about Ministry of Finance projected issuance:Japan’s Bonds Drop a 4th Day After 20-Year Auction Demand Cools – Bloomberg.comIt’s possible that the new government will have to limit its borrowing for “stimulus” spending, as the demand for additional JGB’s is limited.It seems to me the scenario would work like this:Ministry of

The Performance of Japanese Companies - A Growing Connection with External Demand

By Claus Vistesen: Copenhagen(click on pictures for better viewing) Last week, we learned that industrial production rose yet again in Japan clocking in at 1.4% month-on-month in September after having increased by 1.6% in August. Companies said they planned to increase production in October and November as well, indicating the recovery from a record export collapse in the first quarter is

Japan - In the Eye off the Beholder

By Claus Vistesen: Copenhagen(click on pictures for better viewing) After a nice and entertaining week in Barcelona where I had the privilege not only to hold a seminar at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, but also to meet a host of interesting people, I thought that it would be about time that I finished my piece on the latest data from Japan which admittedly will be a bit backward

Japan's US Treasury holdings through August

Note yet another increase in spite of continued yen strength.Source

Japan's recent quantitative easing relative to other G-8 countries

Source: Danske Bank

Japan's US Treasury holdings through July

in billions of $...