BoJ denies traders’ request to work from home

At least three firms have asked Central Bank of Japan whether traders can participate in its operations from outside the office, only to be met with a refusal, according to sources.

BoJ does not allow home computers to connect to its network for conducting asset purchases and other market transactions, raising concerns at financial firms as coronavirus cases in Tokyo surge.

The so-called BoJ-Net infrastructure, used for trillions of yen in transactions daily, is connected via dedicated cables to computers at dozens of financial firms so they can trade assets with the central bank or buy bonds from the government.

The monetary authority is concerned that allowing access from home would risk cybersecurity, the sources said, asking not to be named because the matter is private. By contrast, the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank have allowed trading with counter parties at home.