BOJ Ends its Massive Stimulus program and Raises Target Rate to 0.5 Percent

The central bank of Japan intends to end its massive stimulus program by slowing asset purchases and increasing the long-term interest rate target to 0.5 percent for the current year. Even if the current bond market is unstable, they would still pursue ending the stimulus program despite the U.S. president questions this strategy of Japan.

The BOJ needs to increase the 10-year government bond yield to 0.5 percent following the rise of global bond yields and domestic inflation. Moreover, the BOJ see that need to lessen its annual purchases of bonds up to 30 trillion yen or $262 billion since it's about to reach the limit. An IMF economist sees this policy as more sustainable besides the revision of policy framework in September to counter deflation despite all the aggressive purchases in the past three years.