Bank of Japan (8301) Governor Masaaki Shirakawa will step down on March 19, almost three weeks before his term was due, accelerating a leadership transition that may aid Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s campaign for aggressive easing. Shirakawa, 63, will exit the same time as two deputy governors, he told reporters in Tokyo. He was scheduled to leave on April 8. Japan’s currency slid after the comments, adding to losses against the dollar since Abe’s administration took office in December on a platform of greater monetary stimulus and a reversal of yen strength that has hurt export competitiveness. The outgoing chief ... (full story)