BoJ boosts asset-buying programme by $61bn

Japan's central bank has further eased monetary policy by expanding its asset purchasing programme from 65trn to 70trn yen and buying riskier assets including ETFs.

The Bank of Japan extended the deadline for the completion of those purchases from the end of 2012 to the end of June 2013, as well as increasing its purchases of Japanese government bonds by 10trn yen. Other moves included increasing the residual maturity of its government and corporate bond purchases to 1-3 years from 1-2 years and increasing the purchases of ETFs and Japan REITs by 200trn yen and 10trn yen respectively. But the Bank added consumer inflation in Japan may approach its new 1% target as soon as 2014, casting doubt on its willingness to engage in further aggressive poli...