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From Trading Economics: Japan’s producer prices decreased by 2.2 percent year-on-year in November 2016, following a 2.7 percent drop in the previous month and beating market consensus of 2.3 percent decrease. It was the 20th straight month of decline and the smallest fall since May 2015, as prices went down at a slower pace for: Transport equipment (-1 percent from -1.1 percent in October); chemicals (-5.8 percent from -6.1 percent); petroleum and coal products (-5.7 percent from -7.2 percent); and iron and steel (-2.6 percent from -3.4 percent).…

Japan unexpectedly cut its reading of third-quarter economic growth to an annualized 1.3 percent, from a preliminary estimate of 2.2 percent expansion. The revision was driven by drops in business spending and in private inventories.

The gross domestic product (GDP) expanded just 0.3% in July-September and 1.3% annually, the Cabinet Office said on Thursday in a revised estimate.…

Japan’s industrial output rose slightly by 0.1 percent in October from the previous month, signaling a moderate growth, official data showed Wednesday. The Japan’s industrial production was slightly stronger than economists forecast in October, as exports compensated for continued weak domestic spending.…

Japanese retail sales inched down in October from a year before, falling for the eighth straight month, as consumers remain cautious about spending amid sluggish wage growth, though the decline was smaller than in previous months.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry report, Japanese retail sales went down for an eighth month running in October, however, the fall was much smaller than expected in a sign the economy was showing positive signals in the fourth quarter.…

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From Trading Economics: Exports from Japan decreased 10.3 percent year-on-year to JPY 5869.9 billion in October of 2016. It is the 13th consecutive drop and much worse than expectations of an 8.6 percent fall. Sales went down mainly to the United States (-11.2 percent); China (-9.2 percent); the European Union (-9.5 percent); South Korea (-4.6 percent) and Taiwan (-2.8 percent).…

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From Trading Economics: The Japanese yen fell further against the US dollar on Tuesday to its weakest level since June 1, after US retail sales data came in stronger than expected. The yen has already weakened 4% since November 8 after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election led to a sell-off in US government bonds.…

Japan’s economy expanded more than forecast in the three months through September, with a rebound in exports compensating for weak spending by people and companies.

The Japan’s economy beat expectations in the third quarter thanks to exports, according to government data.…

News Event

From Trading Economics: Foreign Exchange Reserves in Japan decreased to 1242800 USD Million in October from 1260145 USD Million in September of 2016. Foreign Exchange Reserves in Japan averaged 288836.57 USD Million from 1957 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 1306668 USD Million in January of 2012 and a record low of 455 USD Million in September of 1957.…

Under the Bank of Japan’s latest monetary policy framework, set at its September policy board meeting, “due attention should be paid to the impact of the negative interest rate policy on financial institutions’ profits,” the minutes of that meeting showed.

“With regard to possible options for additional easing, the Bank can cut the short-term policy interest rate and the target level of a long-term interest rate, which are two key benchmark rates for yield curve control.…

The Bank of Japan held off on expanding stimulus on today despite once again pushing back the timing for hitting its inflation target, signaling that it will keep policy unchanged unless a severe shock threatens to derail a fragile economic recovery.…