The Bank of Japan submits to the Diet its Semiannual Report on Currency and Monetary Control every June and December. I am pleased to have this opportunity today to talk about recent economic and financial developments and present an overall review of the Bank's conduct of monetary policy. I. Economic and Financial Developments I will first explain recent economic and financial developments. Japan's economy has picked up as a trend, although it has remained in a severe situation due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Exports and production have continued to increase, mainly on the back of a pick-up in ... (full story)