Today's numbers highlight the inappropriateness of rate-cut expectations.

Thanks to our artists, we pretend well, living under canopies of painted clouds and painted gods, in halls of marble floors across which the sung Masses paint hope in deep impatsi of echo. We make of the hollow world a fuller, messier, prettier place, but all our inventions can't create the one thing we require: to deserve any fond attention we might accidentally receive, to receive any fond attention we don't in the course of things deserve. We are never enough to ourselves because we can never be enough to another. Any one of us walks into any room and reminds its occupant that we are not the one they most want to see. We are never the one. We are never enough.

We've seen some gyrations in expectations due to the whipsaw that we've seen in the economic data. We're looking for two more increases. At that point, the Fed must be a little bit cautious and take into account the lagged effect of previous rate hikes.

We knew there were a lot of expectations but we didn't let the pressure get to us. We just had fun with it -- we just do what comes natural and enjoy the ride. We're fortunate to have a great chemistry. When we get together, we get the Judas Priest sound -- that's success.

When we look at the economic fundamentals in Japan, and how they've unfolded in the last six months, we're clearly seeing an economy that is growing above potential.

It's unambiguously good news for Japan. It signals the dark days of deflation are behind us.