Reuters: Japan plots delay to balancing budget without spooking markets, G20 partners

The newswire reports Japanese prime Minister Shinzo Abe is looking to ditch a pledge to balance the budget by fiscal 2020

• In favour of a looser debt-to-GDP ratio target
• He's trying to create a "free hand to delay again an unpopular sales tax hike"

Reuters quoiting unnamed government sources

The report adds:

• Any fiscal slippage would mean Japan keeping its money printing presses running longer, and would break a commitment to G20 countries.
• That could risk provoking fresh accusations of currency manipulation from the United States and other G20 countries if they saw Japan's move as a further attempt to keep the yen weak.