BANK OF JAPAN

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Friday but maintained a cautious tone as investors await the Greek elections.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Wednesday but maintained a cautious tone as investors have concerns of the persisting debt crisis looming over the euro zone.

Asian stock markets reported their first weekly gains in six weeks amid hopes that major central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, might act to tackle deteriorating global economic conditions.

Japan's economy grew more than the initial estimate in the first three months of the year from the preceding quarter, indicating that the country is slowly regaining the growth momentum.

Massive movements of capital during the latest occurrences of the European financial crisis have forced central bankers into the role of circus contortionists: bending into positions in order to maintain their stated policy targets. And their antics are not being bought by all, with some wagering that these bankers' next attempts will result in a broken back or two.

Japan's industrial production gained in April from the previous month but remained below expectation, raising concerns about the country's faltering economic growth momentum.

Japanese industrial output rose in April at a slower pace than expected, in a discouraging sign that China's slowing economy and Europe's sovereign debt crisis will weigh on Japan's recovery.

Japan?s unemployment rate rose in April compared to previous month increasing concerns of the country?s faltering economic growth momentum.

Japan reported Wednesday a rise in trade deficit in April compared to a year earlier as the nuclear energy crisis has resulted in the increase of oil and gas imports.

Fitch cut Japan's sovereign credit status on Tuesday to the lowest level among global ratings agencies as a political stalemate dims the chance that the country can curb its snowballing debt.

Japan's Nikkei share average rose in early trading Tuesday, continuing Monday's technical correction as investors picked up bargains after last week's flurry of aggressive selling, triggered by concern over a deepening euro crisis.

China can now bypass Wall Street when buying U.S. government debt and go straight to the U.S. Treasury, in what is the Treasury's first-ever direct relationship with a foreign government, according to documents viewed by Reuters.

A day after the largest bank in Japan agreed to comply with a U.S. District Court order barring it from doing business with Iran, bankers and government officials in Tokyo are reportedly trying to find a way to circumvent the commercial embargo.

Japan?s economy grew in the first three months of the year from the preceding quarter, boosted by reconstruction activities in regions hit by last year?s tsunami.

Greece continued to weigh heavily on confidence Wednesday as bank customers there began sending cash out of the country or hiding it under their beds -- this despite hints from German Chancellor Angela Merkel that a stimulus would be forthcoming if the country stuck to its austerity commitments.

Asian markets fell at week's end as Greece's inability to form a government, uninspiring Chinese industrial output growth and JPMorgan's trading losses affected investor sentiment.

The Bank of Japan will expand its Asset Purchase Program by an additional 5 trillion yen ($62 billion) to increase the purchase of Japanese government bonds, exchange-traded funds and Japan real estate investment trusts, the bank announced in a statement Friday.

Asian stock markets ended lower Friday as renewed concerns about the debt-laden Eurozone offset better-than-expected US pending home sales data and corporate earnings.

Asian stock markets declined Friday as sentiment was subdued after Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's rating.

The Bank of Japan said Friday that it is further easing the monetary policy so that the economy could recover from deflation and grow more strongly.

Asian shares rose on Friday, tracking U.S. stocks which jumped overnight on strong U.S. housing data and earnings, but concerns over the health of European banks weighed on investor risk appetite after Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's rating.