According to Reuters, Bank of Japan (BOJ) Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida announced that interest rate hikes will continue if the country’s economy and inflation remain in line with expectations.
Speaking at Japan’s credit portfolio meeting, Uchida maintained that the central bank would make its decisions without bias, carefully evaluating domestic and international economic indicators, price developments, and financial markets. The BOJ’s next interest rate decision will be announced on October 30th.
This statement suggests that the Bank of Japan continues its data-driven stance and has not yet made a clear decision regarding an interest rate hike at its October meeting. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda also stated a day earlier that the bank would base its next steps on the sustainability of economic growth and wage increases.
Ueda stated that interest rate hikes will continue as planned if the economic growth and inflation outlook are more likely to be in line with expectations. Japan’s benchmark interest rate currently stands at 0.5%. Most analysts expect the central bank to raise interest rates to 0.75% by next January.
*This is not investment advice.