• Japan’s Monetary Base grew less than markets expected, slipping to 7.8%.
• Markets expected an uptick to 9%.
• Annualized Monetary Base growth hit 8.9% in November.

December’s YoY Japan Monetary Base slipped to 7.8% growth for the year ended December, coming in less than median market forecasts of 9%, and slipping further back from November’s annualized print of 8.9%.

The seasonally adjusted figure declined steeply, with the Monetary Base declining by 14.5% after cyclical factors were adjusted for.

Market Reaction

The USD/JPY is trading in a tight range at the intraday level, but the Yen appears to be giving up early ground on Friday as the US Dollar continues to push back towards 145.00 against the JPY.

USD/JPY Hourly Chart

About Japan’s Monetary Base

The Monetary Base released by the Bank of Japan is the "Currency Supplied by the BoJ" including all the JPY in circulation, encompassing notes and coins as well as money held in bank accounts. It is considered as an important indicator of inflation, as monetary expansion adds pressure to the exchange rates. An acceleration of monetary base is considered as positive for the JPY, whereas a decline is seen as negative.