Balance of Trade

-668300000000

Between 1980 and 2010 Japan had been recording trade surpluses every year due to rising exports. However, the trade balance swung to deficit in 2011, as the Fukushima nuclear disaster forced the country to increase its purchases of fossil fuels and gas in the wake of weaker yen. The surplus was back in 2016 and 2017, but in 2018 and 2019 Japan's trade balance shifted back into deficit amid persistent trade tensions between the US and China, and sluggish global growth. In 2019, Japan reported the biggest trade surpluses with the US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and the Netherlands. The biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

Exports YoY

19.1%

Exports of high technology products have been the engine of Japan's economic growth since 1960. Exports account for around 19 percent of total GDP. In 2019 exports fell 5.6 percent from the previous year's record high amid global trade tensions. Main exports were: transport equipment (24 percent of total exports), with motor vehicles accounting for 16 percent; machinery (20 percent) on the back of power generating machine and semicon machinery; electrical machinery (17 percent), such as semiconductors, IC and electrical apparatus; chemicals (11 percent), mainly plastic materials and organic chemicals; and manufactured goods (11 percent), such as iron and steel products, nonferrous metals and manufactures of metals. Japan's main export partners were the US (20 percent), China (19 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), South Korea (7 percent), Taiwan (6 percent), Hong Kong (5 percent), and Thailand (4 percent).

Imports YoY

34%

In 2019 imports to Japan dropped 5 percent from the previous year's record high amid global trade tensions. Main imports were: mineral fuels (22 percent of total imports), with petroleum accounting for 10 percent and LNG for 6 percent; electrical machinery (15 percent) on the back of telephony, telegraphy and semiconductors; chemicals (10 percent) due to medical products and organic chemicals; machinery (10 percent) in particular computers and units; foodstuff (9 percent) such as fish and fish preparations and meat and meat preparations; manufactured goods (9 percent) on nonferrous metals; and raw materials (6 percent) mainly ore of nonferrous and iron ore and concentrates. Japan's main import partners were China (23 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), the US (11 percent), Australia (6 percent), South Korea (4 percent), Saudi Arabia (4 percent), Taiwan (4 percent), the UAE (4 percent) and Thailand (4 percent).

API Crude Oil Stock Change

Stocks of crude oil refer to the weekly change of the crude oil supply situation.

SNB Chair Jordan Speech

In Switzerland, interest rate decisions are taken by the Swiss National Bank. The official interest rate is the SNB policy rate. The SNB seeks to keep the secured short-term Swiss franc money market rates close to the SNB policy rate. SARON is the most representative of these rates today. As of 13 June 2019, the SNB policy rate replaced the target range for the three-month Swiss franc Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) previously used in the SNB's monetary policy strategy. The reason for this adjustment was that the Libor was becoming less relevant as the most important reference rate owing to the absence of the underlying money market transactions. From 6 September 2011 to 15 January 2015, the main focus of implementation was on the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro, which the SNB enforced during this period. On 18 December 2014, the SNB decided to impose an interest rate of -0.25% on sight deposit account balances. With the announcement of a negative interest rate, the Libor target range used then was taken into negative territory for the first time, and extended to its usual width of 1 percentage point. On 15 January 2015, the SNB lowered the interest rate on sight deposits to -0.75% and moved the target range downwards to between -1.25% and -0.25%. Negative interest has applied since 22 January 2015 and currently corresponds to the SNB policy rate.

Fed Evans Speech

In the United States, the authority to set interest rates is divided between the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (Board) and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). The Board decides on changes in discount rates after recommendations submitted by one or more of the regional Federal Reserve Banks. The FOMC decides on open market operations, including the desired levels of central bank money or the desired federal funds market rate.

52-Week Bill Auction

Global Dairy Trade Price Index

Measures the weighted-average price of 9 dairy products sold at auction every two weeks.

12-Month BTF Auction

6-Month BTF Auction

3-Month BTF Auction

Redbook YoY

The Johnson Redbook Index is a sales-weighted of year-over-year same-store sales growth in a sample of large US general merchandise retailers representing about 9,000 stores. Same-store sales are sales in stores continuously open for 12 months or longer. By dollar value, the Index represents over 80% of the equivalent 'official' retail sales series collected and published by the US Department of Commerce. Redbook compiles the Index by collecting and interpreting performance estimates from retailers. The Index and its sub-groups are sales-weighted aggregates of these estimates. Weeks are retail weeks (Sunday to Saturday), and equally weighted within the month.

Foreign Securities Purchases by Canadians

In Canada, the data series on international transactions in securities covers portfolio transactions in equity and investment fund shares, bonds and money market instruments for both Canadian and foreign issues. This activity excludes transactions in equity and debt instruments between affiliated enterprises, which are classified as foreign direct investment in international accounts.

Foreign Securities Purchases

13490000000

In Canada, the data series on international transactions in securities covers portfolio transactions in equity and investment fund shares, bonds and money market instruments for both Canadian and foreign issues. This activity excludes transactions in equity and debt instruments between affiliated enterprises, which are classified as foreign direct investment in international accounts.

Housing Starts

Housing Starts refer to the number of new residential construction projects that have begun during any particular month. Estimates of housing starts include units in structures being totally rebuilt on an existing foundation.

Building Permits

1865000

Building Permits refer to the approvals given by a local jurisdictions before the construction of a new or existing building can legally occur. Not all areas of the United States require a permit for construction.

Housing Starts MoM

6.8%

Housing Starts refer to the number of new residential construction projects that have begun during any particular month. Estimates of housing starts include units in structures being totally rebuilt on an existing foundation.

Building Permits MoM

-1.9%

Building Permits refer to the approvals given by a local jurisdictions before the construction of a new or existing building can legally occur. Not all areas of the United States require a permit for construction.

Housing Starts

247300

In Canada, a housing start is defined as the beginning of construction work on the building where the dwelling unit will be located. This can be described in 2 ways: usually, the stage when the concrete has been poured for the whole of the footing around the structure; or an equivalent stage where a basement will not be part of the structure.

PPI YoY

20.7%

In Portugal, the Industrial Production Price Index aims to show the monthly evolution of transaction prices in economic activities for the domestic and foreign markets. The indices are obtained based on the Survey on Prices in the Production of Industrial Products, carried out by electronic form, with companies based in the national territory, focusing mainly on the extractive, manufacturing and electricity, gas and water industries. About 10123 prices are collected every month. Intermediate goods is the biggest segment of producer prices, accounting for 36 percent of total PPI, followed by consumer goods (31 percent), energy (20 percent) and capital goods (12 percent).

PPI MoM

2.7%

In Portugal, the Producer Price Inflation MoM measures the monthly evolution of transaction prices in economic activities for the domestic and foreign markets. The indices are obtained based on the Survey on Prices in the Production of Industrial Products, carried out by electronic form, with companies based in the national territory, focusing mainly on the extractive, manufacturing and electricity, gas and water industries. About 10123 prices are collected every month. Intermediate goods is the biggest segment of producer prices, accounting for 36 percent of total PPI, followed by consumer goods (31 percent), energy (20 percent) and capital goods (12 percent).

5-Year Bobl Auction

0.21%

3-Month Letras Auction

-0.692%

Interest Rate Decision

3.5%

In Indonesia the interest rate decisions are taken by The Central Bank of Republic of Indonesia. In April of 2016, policymakers announced the replacement of the official discount interest rate with new 7-day reverse repurchase rate in August 2016. This is the rate at which central banks lend or discount eligible paper for deposit money banks, typically shown on an end-of-period basis.

Deposit Facility Rate

2.75%

The Deposit Interest Rate is the average rate paid by commercial banks to individuals or corporations on deposits.

Lending Facility Rate

4.25%

In Indonesia, lending rate refers to central bank lending facility rate.

Balance of Trade

84200000000

The Norwegian trade balance has been in surplus since 1989. In 2019, the trade surplus narrowed sharply by 48.3 percent from the previous year to NOK 148 billion amid global trade tensions and weak external demand. The biggest trade surpluses were recorded with the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Iceland, Portugal, Singapore and Ireland; and the largest deficits were recorded with China, the US, Sweden, Russia, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Poland, Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Industrial Production MoM Final

-0.8%

In Japan, industrial production measures the output of businesses integrated in industrial sector of the economy such as manufacturing, mining, and utilities.

Industrial Production YoY Final

-0.5%

In Japan, industrial production measures the output of businesses integrated in industrial sector of the economy such as manufacturing, mining, and utilities.

Capacity Utilization MoM

-3.2%

In Japan, capacity utilization is the quantity of production divided by the quantity of production capacity, expressing the state of operations for various facilities in the manufacturing industry. It does not measure the absolute level of capacity utilization but the relative capacity utilization rate compared with the benchmark year.

HIA New Home Sales MoM

-7%

In Australia, new home sales are based on the survey results obtained from State-wide estimates using weights based on financial year market shares of private dwelling commencements.

RBA Meeting Minutes

In Australia, interest rates decisions are taken by the Reserve Bank of Australia's Board. The official interest rate is the cash rate. The cash rate is the rate charged on overnight loans between financial intermediaries, is determined in the money market as a result of the interaction of demand for and supply of overnight funds.

IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings

IMF/World Economic Outlook