Core Viewpoint - Japan's cabinet has approved a significant stimulus package of 21.3 trillion yen ($135.5 billion), the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at addressing economic challenges and boosting growth [1][2] Economic Context - The stimulus package focuses on three main objectives: alleviating rising prices, promoting robust economic growth, and enhancing defense and diplomacy [2] - It includes local government grants and energy subsidies, which are expected to provide households with approximately 7,000 yen over three months [2] - Japan's economy has recently shown signs of weakness, with a GDP decline of 0.4% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2025, translating to a 1.8% annualized contraction, marking the first decline in 18 months [4] Inflation and Economic Impact - Inflation in Japan has remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target for 43 consecutive months, reaching 3% in October 2025 [4] - The government anticipates that the stimulus will increase real GDP by 24 trillion yen, resulting in a total economic impact of nearly $265 billion [4] Market Reactions and Concerns - Despite the stimulus efforts, market observers express skepticism regarding the effectiveness of continued fiscal stimulus beyond emergency situations [5] - The price of five-year credit default swaps on Japanese government bonds has risen to 21.73 basis points, indicating heightened investor concerns about default risk [5] Currency and Bond Market Dynamics - Following the announcement of the stimulus, the yen has depreciated significantly, raising concerns about currency stability and potential government intervention [6] - The 40-year bond yield reached a historic 3.774%, with rising yields reflecting worries about future inflation and fiscal health [7] - A 100-basis-point increase in yields could raise annual government financing costs by approximately 2.8 trillion yen, intensifying fears regarding unsustainable debt servicing [7]

Peru’s central bank chief Julio Velarde will soon mark 20 years commanding Latin America’s most stable currency — and is now beginning to signal who he would like to succeed him https://t.co/D7krPQh317 ...

Monetary Policy - Hungary's central bank prioritized currency stability [1] - Policymakers are wary of premature monetary easing [1] Interest Rates - Hungary maintains the highest borrowing costs in the European Union [1]