Data Sources and Transparency
All data sources used in Basis Point, including official government sources, market data providers, and news outlets.
Note: Japanese-language links are intentionally provided even when English versions are available, as they often contain more comprehensive and timely content. The sources listed here are ones I personally use and find valuable, not an exhaustive list.
Primary Official Sources
These are the "ground truth" for the JGB market. All professional analysis should start here.
| Source | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MOF JGB Historical Interest Rates | MOF - The Issuer | Authoritative source for all JGB yield data. Daily yield data from 1974 to present across all maturities (1yr to 40yr) |
| MOF Auction Calendar | MOF - The Issuer | Upcoming auction schedules |
| MOF Auction Results | MOF - The Issuer | Key data on market demand (e.g., bid-to-cover ratio) |
| MOF Issuance Plans | MOF - The Issuer | Annual and quarterly issuance strategies |
| BOJ Main Portal | BOJ - Buyer & Policy-Setter | Primary source for BOJ information. The most dominant player in the JGB market |
| BOJ Policy Meeting Schedule & Statements | BOJ - Buyer & Policy-Setter | The single most important releases for monetary policy |
| BOJ JGB Purchase Operations | BOJ - Buyer & Policy-Setter | Daily announcements of BOJ's bond buying |
| BOJ JGB Holdings (MEI) | BOJ - Buyer & Policy-Setter | Official data on how many JGBs the BOJ owns |
| JPX JGB Futures Data | Japan Exchange Group / Osaka Exchange | Primary exchange for 10-year JGB futures. Daily prices, settlement prices, and trading volume |
News & Analysis Sources
| Source | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Bloomberg Japan | Scan the "Opinion" tab. Key reporters: Toru Fujioka, Sumio Ito |
| Reuters Japan | Look for 「オピニオン」 (Opinion) section. Key reporters: Leika Kihara, Tetsushi Kajimoto |
| 日経 (Nikkei) | Japan's premier financial newspaper. Essential for context and "leaked" policy ideas |
| 共同通信 (Kyodo News) | Major Japanese news agency, good for fast, objective headlines |
| Note Publishers | Platform for independent analysis. Search for individual experts and economists covering JGBs |
| YouTube Channels | Real Vision, Macro Voices, etc. Useful for broader macro context and global investor sentiment |
Global Context & Comparative Data
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| U.S. Department of the Treasury | Official source for daily US Treasury yield curve rates. Essential for calculating JGB-UST spreads |
| FRED (St. Louis Fed) | Most powerful free database for global economic and financial data. Look for: US 10-Year (DGS10), German 10-Year (DE10Y), global inflation data (CPI) |
Professional & Alternative Data Sources
The "Walled Gardens" (Professional Terminals)
| Platform | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomberg Terminal | The industry standard for financial data and analytics | $25,000 - $30,000 per user/year |
| Refinitiv Eikon (LSEG) | Major competitor to Bloomberg | Similar pricing tier |
| FactSet | Widely used by asset managers and investment banks | Similar pricing tier |
Free & Open-Source Alternatives
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| OpenBB | Open-source investment research platform that integrates data from many sources (including FRED) |
| yfinance | Python library for downloading historical market data from Yahoo! Finance, including bond ETFs and yield tickers |
| histdata.com | Free historical futures data, useful for back-testing |
Official Economic Data Sources
Comprehensive primary sources for Japanese economic statistics, which serve as the inputs for monetary and fiscal policy.
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| e-Stat Portal | Comprehensive Japanese statistics portal |
| BOJ Statistics Portal | Monetary statistics and flow of funds |
| Statistics Bureau Japan | National statistics including CPI |
| MOF Statistics | Fiscal and budget data |
| BOJ Statistical Search | Time series database |
| JPX J-Quants API | Market data API |
| Japan Customs Statistics | Trade data |
Public Research & Think Tanks
Japanese financial institutions, research institutes, and think tanks publish exceptional, in-depth analysis on JGBs, monetary policy, and macroeconomic trends. This material can be dense and technical—use AI tools to help translate and break down complex concepts.
| Institution | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Mizuho Research & Technologies | Bank Research | Comprehensive economic and market research from Mizuho Financial Group |
| Daiwa Institute of Research (DIR) | Bank Research | Highly respected for policy analysis and economic forecasts |
| MUFG Bank Market Reports | Bank Research | Daily and weekly market commentary from one of Japan's largest banks |
| SBI Securities Market Guide | Securities Research | Accessible market education and analysis |
| SBI FXTRADE Market Commentary | Securities Research | FX and rates analysis with JGB coverage |
| SBI Shinsei Bank Market Information | Bank Research | Institutional market commentary archive |
| Nomura Research Institute (NRI) | Think Tank | One of Japan's premier think tanks, excellent for long-term structural analysis |
| NRI Knowledge Reports | Think Tank | Thematic research on finance, technology, and policy |
| Japan Research Institute of Finance and Economics (JRIFE) | Think Tank | Academic-quality research on financial markets and policy |
| Japan Research Institute (JRI) - Finance & Monetary Policy | Think Tank | Focus on monetary policy and financial system analysis |
| Dai-ichi Life Research Institute (DLRI) | Think Tank | Market research from an institutional investor perspective |
| Pictet Japan Market Commentary | Asset Management | Global asset manager's perspective on Japanese markets |
| Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) Research | Specialized | Long-term infrastructure and industrial policy research |
| Norinchukin Research Institute | Specialized | Agricultural finance and broader economic research |
| Sony Financial Group Market Reports | Asset Management | Insurance and asset management perspective |