Group 1 - The Bank of Japan maintained its interest rates but unexpectedly announced the initiation of ETF sales, marking a significant step towards gradually exiting large-scale stimulus measures [1][2] - The Bank plans to sell ETFs at an annual rate of approximately 3.3 trillion yen and real estate REITs at about 5 billion yen per year, with the total ETF holdings valued at around 37 trillion yen [1][3] - Despite the large scale of the planned sales, it would take approximately 112 years to completely liquidate the ETF holdings at the current pace, indicating limited immediate market impact [1][3] Group 2 - The recent meeting signaled a clear hawkish stance from the Bank of Japan, with two dissenting votes advocating for an interest rate increase from 0.5% to 0.75%, reflecting growing internal pressure for policy normalization [2][4] - Analysts believe that while the policy shift is significant, the actual market impact is expected to be limited, with some suggesting that the clear path for ETF handling represents an important turning point [5][6] - The impact on different asset classes is anticipated to be varied, with potential structural resistance for major indices like TOPIX and Nikkei, while banks may benefit from a steeper yield curve and improved net interest margins if economic momentum remains stable [5]

Group 1 - Growth stocks in the US have experienced a sell-off, indicating market tension ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Powell's speech at Jackson Hole [1] - Analysts from Bank of America suggest that small-cap stocks may see significant volatility following Powell's comments on monetary policy, with the Russell 2000 index being a key focus [1] - A dovish speech from Powell could trigger a rebound in small-cap stocks, while a more hawkish stance may lead to short-term declines as the market adjusts its rate cut pricing [1] Group 2 - There is uncertainty regarding whether the US economy is heading towards a recession, with differing opinions from economic experts [2] - Small-cap stocks are particularly sensitive to interest rates and refinancing risks, and their performance may be positively impacted by rate cuts if macroeconomic data remains stable [2] - The fate of small-cap companies largely depends on Powell's upcoming speech, highlighting the importance of his comments for market sentiment [2]