The Bank of Japan eased monetary policy on Friday by expanding government bond purchases by 10 trillion yen ($123.8 billion), showing its determination to achieve its new 1 percent inflation target. But the central bank reduced by 5 trillion yen a pool of funds set aside for fixed-rate market operations, reducing it to 30 trillion yen. Combined with the increase in a separate fund for asset purchases, the total size of the BOJ's asset buying and loan programme was increased by 5 trillion yen to 70 trillion yen. The BOJ increased by a small amount purchases of exchange-traded funds and trust funds investing in ... (full story)