Why the Bank of Japan Bought $300 Billion of Stocks

Jun 01, 2021 | News On Japan

Jun 01, 2021 (asianometry) - By December 2020, the Bank of Japan had become the single biggest shareholder of Japanese stocks.

Over the span of a decade, the central bank bought hundreds of billions of dollars in Tokyo-listed stock ETFs as part of its monetary easing programs, sitting on a handsome $130 billion profit. You might be forgiven for wondering if it is normal for a central bank to buy "stonks". It has never been done before in this way. Yet as Japan threatened to enter another era of economic stagnation and deflation, the bank decided to go where no bank has gone before in an effort to fight the future.

Slow-Moving Typhoon No. 24 Hammers Southwestern Japan

Typhoon No. 24 (Krovahn) was moving southeast near Okinawa early on September 6, bringing strong winds, high waves and locally heavy rain to the Nansei Islands while moisture carried by the storm raised the risk of heavier rainfall across western and eastern Japan, with its center located about 110 kilometers southeast of Naha at 3 a.m., a central atmospheric pressure of 992 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 18 meters per second.

Tokyo Unveils Design for Symbol Tree at Shinjuku Station

Tokyo has unveiled the design for a major redevelopment of the plaza outside Shinjuku Station's west exit, with a landmark tree, water-play area and event space planned as part of a transformation centered on "greenery, light and people" that is scheduled for completion in 2035.

Japanese Researcher Wins Ig Nobel Prize

A late former professor at Asahikawa Medical University has won the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for scientifically examining the proper way to blow the nose, extending Japan's streak of Ig Nobel winners to 20 consecutive years.

Shinkansen Takes on Overnight Travel

Night trains are making a comeback across Japan, with railway operators introducing new overnight services and even experimenting with overnight Shinkansen trains as demand grows for alternatives that combine transportation, accommodation and the experience of traveling through the night.

Bear Attacks Continue as Peak Season Looms

Bear sightings and attacks have been reported across Japan throughout the summer, with animals damaging sheds, attacking livestock and injuring people, while experts warn that autumn is the most dangerous season as bears expand their range in search of food.

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