Intra-Day News and Views (USD/JPY) & data to be released today: Feb 23, 2015

Intra-Day Market Moving News and Views
23 Feb 2015 00:32GMT

USD/JPY - ...... More on earlier release of BoJ minutes. Reuters reported 3 members of the BoJ's policy board expressed doubts the BOJ can meet its inflation target because of a slowdown in underlying inflation and falling oil prices, minutes of the bank's January monetary policy meeting showed.

One of the three members said that even though the yen is weak, annual inflation excluding food and energy is only slightly above zero, according to minutes published on Monday.
Another of the three members said the collapse in oil prices from last year has slowed inflationary momentum.

In a quarterly review of its long-term forecasts in January, the BOJ cut its core consumer inflation projection to 1.0% from an estimate 1.7% issued 3 months ago, largely due to the global oil price slump.

BOJ January meeting minutes showed members agreed to share common forecast for oil prices as oil price swings could have big impact on CPI;
many members saw no change to long-term price trend;
many members said high chance of meeting inflation target around FY 2015 assuming gradual increase in oil prices.

Data to be released this week :

Japan BoJ minutes, China market holiday, Germany Ifo business climate,current conditions, expectations, UK CBI trades and U.S. existing home sales on Monday.

China market holiday, New Zealand RBNZ inflation expectation, Germany GDP, France business climate, UK BBA mortgage approvals, EU inflation, U.S. Caseshiller and consumer confidence, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday.

Australia Wage price, China manufacturing PMI, Italy trade balance and U.S. new home sales on Wednesday.

New Zealand exports, imports, trade balance, Australia capex, Germany consumer sentiment, unemployment rate, France consumer confidence, U.K.GDP, Italy retail sales, business confidence, consumer confidence, EU services sentiment, business climate, consumer confidence, economic sentiment, Canada inflation, U.S. inflation, jobless claims, durable goods and monthly home price on Thursday.

Japan inflation, unemployment rate, retail sales, industrial output, housing starts, construction orders, UK consumer confidence, France producer prices, Swiss KOF indicator, Italy CPI, Germany CPI, U.S. Chicago PMI and pending home sales on Friday.