Inflation and Deflation

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government upgraded its assessment of the economy in May for the first time in two months, in a sign growth is accelerating as exports and factory output pick up. The economy is gradually recovering, according to the government'...

(Recasts with new lead, adds Reuters surveys) * Board meets May 21-22; decision seen May 22 0330-0500GMT * No policy action expected after massive April stimulus * BOJ may fine-tune market operations to stem bond rout * Strong GDP may prompt BOJ to revise...

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is expected to stand pat on monetary policy this week despite jitters over the recent volatility in bond markets, hoping it can prevent a renewed spike in yields by fine-tuning market operations. The central bank may...

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The yen bounced off a 4-1/2 year low against the dollar early in Asia on Monday in the wake of reports suggesting the Japanese government might be happy with the level of the currency following its extended decline. The dollar last...

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said it would seek pay rises of up to 60 percent from gold and coal producers, raising the prospect of fresh strikes as firms battle higher costs and falling prices in an already heated...

* Progress in labor market since bond-buying was launched * Fed officials emphasizing flexibility of easing program * Much depends on data over the next few months By Ann Saphir and Jonathan Spicer May 19 (Reuters) - The beginning of the end of the...

(Reuters) - The beginning of the end of the Federal Reserve's massive bond-buying program might come sooner than many investors think if recent gains in the U.S. labor market do not prove fleeting. Much will depend on how economic data, which has given...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks continued their climb into uncharted territory on Friday, racking up the fourth week of gains in a row as encouraging economic data prompted investors to pick up shares of growth companies. The Dow and the S&P 500 finished...

* Money managers pull $1.4bln from COMEX gold in May 14 week * Traders see another $200 to $300 drop in gold price By Barani Krishnan NEW YORK, May 17 (Reuters) - Hedge funds and other big speculators in commodities have started selling gold in a big...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge funds and other big speculators in commodities have started selling gold in a big way, trade data showed on Friday, just a month after they had supported the precious metal amid a record tumble in its price. Money managers,...

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's housing inflation accelerated to its fastest pace in April in two years, driven by a jump in prices in Beijing and Shanghai, complicating the task of policymakers trying to cool the property sector while supporting economic...

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve has not done enough to lower U.S. borrowing costs to boost economic growth, a top Fed official said on Friday, citing his outlook for overly low inflation and overly high unemployment over the next two to three...