• BOJ expands asset purchases to 55T from 45T yen
  • S&P affirms AAA-rating for Australia, stable outlook
  • NZ current-account soft, but revisions strong
  • Australia July Westpac leading index +0.4%
  • Lacker says Fed may not be able to rapidly reduce the jobless rate
  • Fed’s Bullard says mandate should be restricted to inflation
  • RBA’s Kent says resource investment to peak in ‘next year or so’
  • CBRC’s Wang says Chinese banks should increase overseas assets
  • MOFCOM’s Shen says trade will be affected by island dispute
  • Fed’s Dudley says Europe and fiscal cliff two ‘wild cards’ for economy
  • Nikkei +0.5% to 9171
  • NZD the early leader, JPY lagging

The market was nervy ahead of the BOJ decision, worried that rumored easing might not come to pass. That turned out to be wrong as the BOJ eased and USD/JPY broke above 79.03.

Other trades now turning higher as the BOJ moves underscore that central banks will do anything to stem slow growth.