16 Apr 2014 01:28GMT
USD/JPY - 102.04 Japan FinMin Aso says 'can't Ok crop. tax cut without alternative revenue.'
Japan FinMin Aso says 'pull back from sales tax hike not as big as expected; downturn in consumption from pent-up demand ahead of sales tax hike smaller than expected from now.'
Fed's Kocherlakota says 'wage growth has been slow because of low demand; makes goods, services seem more expensive; calls to "audit the Fed" are really calls for politicians to have more say on monetary policy; I am an active "learner" on Bitcoin, very interesting to monitor and keep track of; interested in Bitcoin as a payment system, not as a currency that competes with dollar; it is not clear whether raising the minimum wage adds to, or reduces, unemployment.'
Fed's Kocherlakota says 'we need to do a better job of letting people know "the Fed has economy's back; we can afford to stay accommodative as the recovery proceeds; I expect interest rates to rise gradually as recovery continue; If we see inflation rise rapidly, will raises rates rapidly in response; I am fully committed to doing whatever it takes to keep inflation, because of tools at Feds' disposal; a lot of unemployment is cyclical, and can be affected by monetary policy.'
00:31GMT
AUD/USD - 0.9337 - Australia Mar Westpac leading index rose to 0.0% from -0.1% in Feb.
BoJ's Kuroday says 'expects wider range of prices in Japan to rise ahead.'
'BoJ's QE steadily showing effect on Japan economy; Japan making steady progress toward BoJ's 2% price target; Japan's economy to weaken Q2 on effect of sales tax hike but resume growth above a potential from around summer; Tankan showed board range of Japan firms seen cautious of economic outlook but think firms' positive stance on business maintained.'
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