Bank of Japan

Big Picture

BOJ Calls on Banks to Be Extra Vigilant in Current Environment

By Thisanka Siripala | 25/04/2025

Banks could see volatility in their stock prices, more defaults by client firms, and risks from exposures to foreign non-banks.

Capital / Liquidity

Japan FSA Raises Alarm Over Hidden Losses in Structured Loans

By Thisanka Siripala | 22/04/2025

Structured loans which bundle JGBs with derivatives have allowed regional banks to avoid marking-to-market or publicly disclosing losses as interest rates have risen.

BOJ Raises Interest Rates to Highest Level in 17 Years

By Thisanka Siripala | 25/01/2025

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said the rate hike aligns with the central bank’s efforts to maintain inflation at its 2% target over the medium term​.

AML / KYC

Central Banks Offers Legal and System Design Lessons for Retail CBDC

By Manesh Samtani | 01/12/2024

Seven central banks have published two new papers summarising key legal and system design aspects of retail CBDC.

ESG / Sustainability

BCBS Postpones Climate Risk Disclosure Framework for Banks

By Thisanka Siripala | 21/11/2024

The BCBS has been unable to finalise the Pillar 3 disclosure framework for climate-related financial risks because the US refuses to endorse it.

Market Infrastructure

US, Hong Kong Cut Rates for the First Time in Four Years

By Manesh Samtani | 19/09/2024

The last time the US Federal Reserve and HKMA lowered their benchmark interest rates was during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Fintech / Regtech

More Than 40 Private Sector Firms Join BIS Project Agora

By Manesh Samtani | 17/09/2024

Seven central banks will work with more than 40 financial firms to explore how tokenisation can enhance wholesale cross-border payments.

Securities / Derivatives

Korean Securities Firms Under Fire Over US Trade Cancellations

By Manesh Samtani | 09/08/2024

A malfunction at Blue Ocean ATS, which provides connectivity to the US after-hours market, caused $457mn in trade cancellations for Korean investors.

BOJ Pledges No Rate Hikes While Markets are “Unstable”

By Editors | 08/08/2024

BOJ’s recent rate hike prompted a significant unwinding of the Japanese yen carry trade which fueled a rout in global stock markets.