Japan will look closely at effects of Fed rate hikes
By REUTERS
TOKYO- The Japanese government will look closely at the effects of the US Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates, a top government spokesman said on Thursday.Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, speaking to reporters in a regular news briefing, added that the Fed's decision to raise rates was based on the improving US economy and is not a bad thing for the global economy.The Fed raised rates to a range of 0.50 percent to 0.75 percent on Wednesday and signaled a faster pace of increases in 2017.Asked about reports by a US think tank that China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, Suga said Japan was closely monitoring the situation.
Outgoing IDF chief of staff visits Hostage Square
