Economic and event calendar in Asia 13 January 2026 - Fed's Williams speaking

John Williams, the New York Fed President, is scheduled to give a keynote speech today at 6 p.m. US Eastern time, perceived as a close ally of Fed Chair Powell, his comments are likely to greatly impact the markets. Meanwhile, Japanese markets are reopening after a long weekend, with noteworthy political news indicating that PM Kishida may call for a snap election in mid-February. This could strengthen his governing mandate, but the immediate implication appears negative for both Japanese government bonds and the yen, especially given Japan's extreme public debt burden and rising debt servicing costs as the Bank of Japan gradually raises rates. Additionally, New Zealand's business confidence has surged to its highest level in a decade, further indicating that the economy is recovering from a prolonged slowdown. Companies are planning to hire more staff, while positive investment plans signal improved sentiment. Overall, these dynamics will play a critical role in influencing the yen's trajectory, and traders should remain particularly vigilant about the upcoming comments from Williams.