Press Conference by KATO Katsunobu, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services

(Excerpt)

(Friday, October 10, 2025, 11:11 am to 11:34 am)

Q.

Regarding the rise in stock prices, the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England have issued warnings that, due to the AI boom, stock prices are approaching levels seen during the dot-com bubble, and that global stock markets are exposed to the risk of a sudden correction. It is also thought that the rise in Japanese stock prices is being driven in part by AI-related stocks. Could you share your views on the current situation of rising stock prices in Japan and on the warnings issued by the International Monetary Fund and others?

A.

We are aware of the remarks made by IMF Managing Director Georgieva and the discussions of the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee. However, as stock prices are determined in the market by a variety of factors, including domestic and international economic conditions and corporate activities, we have refrained from commenting on them. In cooperation and coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies and the Bank of Japan, we will continue to closely monitor developments in both domestic and international economic and financial markets.