Armstrong's observation that we print bonds – not money is correct. What you should be asking is how long will markets allow central governments to print bonds? Japan plans to add $128 billion in reconstruction bonds to an already large debt burden. Bearish money flows in the Japanese Yen, also known as Japan, Inc, implies a negative response to this plan.
Smart traders await a negative technical trigger.
Japanese Yen (FXY) and Yen Diffusion Index (DI)
Headline: Japan plans $128 bln in reconstruction bonds: Nikkei
The Japanese government plans to issue 10 trillion yen ($128 billion) in reconstruction bonds and cut spending by 3 trillion yen to pay for more projects to rebuild the devastated northeast, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.
Investors are counting on reconstruction spending to help the world's third-largest economy pull out from a slump caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March and to resume moderate growth in the third quarter.
A government source told Reuters last week it was planning additional spending of 13 trillion yen for reconstruction projects, on top of a combined 6 trillion yen already set aside in two extra budgets.
The source had said the government was considering issuing special bonds, scaling back other spending plans and selling national assets. The Ministry of Finance was planning on five-year bonds, with the government considering raising taxes to repay them, according to the source.
Source: reuters.com
