bank of japan

The Bank of Japan(BoJ) has taken more aggressive measures to kick-start growth than analysts expected by doubling its inflation target from 1% to 2% and pledging to pump billions of yen into the economy.

Japanese markets have jumped almost 5% in the first three weeks of the year - almost unheard of for the region - in anticipation of a reversal of the decade and half long slump into deflation.

ASSET ALLOCATION

Economist and renowned commentator on Japan, Arcus Investment's Peter Tasker, said in the last 20 years the country has been through the most severe and prolonged bear market ever seen.

JAPAN

The Bank of Japan has followed the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank by extending its QE programme by 10trn yen.

More than a year on from the devastating Tohoku earthquake which struck Japan, investors are continuing to eye Japanese equity funds with caution.

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 has announced further asset-purchases as part of its latest bid to end 20 years of deflationary pressures - but how significant is its recent change in tack?

Legal & General IM's Ben Gill expects the Bank of England may be forced to intervene to weaken sterling as it explores other forms of QE.