Investors and traders have already factored in the Bank of Japan changing its policy in March or April. If the central bank doesn’t take action by then, it would risk spooking financial markets.

A domestic-demand-driven economic recovery is continuing, albeit at a slightly slower pace in Q3. Strong corporate earnings are fueling capital spending and spilling over to the household sector, supporting consumption.

Strong corporate earnings are fuelling capital spending and spilling over to the household sector, supporting consumption.

The survey shows corporate earnings are very healthy.

The figures show that the economy has climbed out of a weak patch and that the underlying trend in capital spending is very strong.

Output was slightly weaker than expected, but I wouldn’t worry too much.

It wasn’t as good as expected but it doesn’t change the outlook for the economy. The impression is that the recovery is spreading to smaller companies.

It’s not just the headline figure that is improving. Full-time jobs are now on the rise, whereas a little while back it was just part-time and contract workers.

It’s going just as everyone has been expecting. We’ll probably see the year-on-year (CPI) increase jump to 0.3 or 0.4 percent next month as the effect of one-off factors last year fades, giving the BOJ...

The underlying trend of consumer spending has been quite solid recently due to the improvement in the job and wage market. Consumption was strong last quarter and played a key role in supporting growth and...

It’s mainly a backlash from the powerful momentum of the last half-year.

Political opposition to the Bank of Japan ending its policy has clearly been removed. With the government’s support, the central bank is now beset with the overall responsibility to ensure the economy keeps expanding after...

Capital spending is strong and will continue to be a key driver of growth. Japan’s economy has clearly emerged from last year’s lull and will enjoy steady growth supported by domestic demand.

I think they won’t want to have their hands tied. They will probably opt for something in the form of statements, instead of numbers.

There is no prospect that gains in oil prices will calm down any time soon.

The BOJ may be ready to raise rates once they see inflation hitting 1 percent or, if it were to be more forward-looking, even earlier. It could start raising rates as early as in July.