Moody's Investors Service has today affirmed the Government of Japan's issuer rating at A1. The rating outlook is maintained at stable. The affirmation reflects: • The slow but continuing progress in developing a policy and reform framework which could ultimately reflate the Japanese economy and reverse the rise in government debt. • Our expectation that funding costs for the government will remain low and stable. Moody's notes that the recent waning of economic momentum has prompted a pause in fiscal policy tightening, which we expect to lead to a rise in the Japanese government's debt burden. However, we expect ... (full story)